GCSE

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools there were at which over (a) 30, (b) 50 and (c) 70 per cent. of pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, in each of the last five years. (304750)

The following table gives the requested time series.

*Number of schools at which the indicated percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieve five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths GCSEs*
	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
30 per cent. or more	2,843	2,979	2,991	3,130	3,242
50 per cent. or more	1,637	1,756	1,760	1,846	1,912
70 per cent. or more	805	842	776	780	795

Only schools with greater than 10 pupils at the end of key stage 4 have been counted. Academies and city technology colleges have been included.

Figures are cumulative in nature. If a school is featured in the 70 per cent. or more row then it will also be in the 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. rows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in receipt of free school meals achieved seven GCSEs, including (a) physics, (b) biology, (c) chemistry, (d) mathematics, (e) English, (f) English literature and (g) history in (i) 1997, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009. (304902)

The requested figures have been presented in the following table. However, achievement data matched to pupil characteristics (including free school meals) are not available for 1997.

*200320082009*
Number and percentage of pupils¹ in maintained schools eligible for free school meals achieving seven or more GCSEs² at grade A-G or the equivalent, including a GCSE in:*	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Physics	1,012	1.2	2,053	2.7	2,932	3.9
Biology	1,207	1.5	2,558	3.4	3,376	4.5
Chemistry	1,112	1.4	2,104	2.8	2,963	4.0
Mathematics	51,155	63.0	54,154	72.4	56,584	76.1
English	52,077	64.2	54,282	72.6	56,818	76.4
English Literature	47,129	58.1	42,321	56.6	41,263	55.5
History	13,565	16.7	12,143	16.2	12,459	16.8
¹ In 2003 figures are based on pupils aged 15-years-old whereas in 2008 and 2009 they are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. ²In 2003 figures include GNVQs as GCSE equivalents. In 2008 and 2009, figures include additional equivalent qualifications approved for pre-16 use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals did not achieve A* to C at GCSE in both English and mathematics in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009. (312245)

[holding answer 21 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1997. The information requested is presented for 2003 (the earliest available year) and 2009 in the following table and is for maintained schools only.

	Number of pupils not achieving A-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics*	Proportion of pupils not achieving A-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage)*
2003
Eligible for FSM	67,195	82.8
Not eligible for FSM	266,217	53.9
2009
Eligible for FSM	54,190	72.9
Not eligible for FSM	227,963	45.2
Note: Figures for 2003 are based on pupils aged 15 and for 2009 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. Source: National Pupil Database

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children obtained five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics in schools where (a) fewer than 10, (b) more than 20 and (c) more than 50 per cent. of pupils were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2005. (314581)

The information requested in presented in the following table and covers maintained mainstream schools:

*Proportion of pupils at end of key stage 4 achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics*
Percentage
FSM group (based on pupils of all ages in school)	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Schools with fewer than 10 FSM pupils	55	57	58	60	62
Schools with 20 or more FSM pupils	26	29	32	34	38
Schools with 50 or more FSM pupils	24	27	31	34	37
Notes: 1. Figures for 2009 are revised. All other years are final. 2. Pupils present in the >50 per cent. FSM data will also be present in the >20 per cent. FSM data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who gained five GCSEs at grades A* to C did so by passing a qualification equivalent to (a) one, (b) two and (c) more than two GCSEs in 2009. (315529)

There were 444,302 pupils at the end of key stage 4 who achieved five or more GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*-C in 2009. A number of these pupils achieved less than 5 GCSE passes (full, double awards and short courses) and reached the threshold by including non-GCSE qualifications (referred to as equivalents) in their attainment. Of the pupils including non-GCSE qualifications to reach the threshold:

22,605 achieved four or 4.5 GCSE qualifications and therefore at least include non-GCSE qualifications up to the size of one full GCSE.

17,791 achieved between three and four GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications at least equivalent to between one and two full GCSEs.

39,367 achieved less than three GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications equivalent to more than two GCSEs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students in each London borough achieved five or more grades at A* to C at GCSE or equivalent in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (319062)

The information requested can be found in the following Statistical First Release (SFR) (table 17):

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000909/index.shtml

Volume 508: debated on Tuesday 6 April 2010