The Department does not collect information about the subjects taught in schools but does collect information about exams taken in schools.
The 20 courses with the highest number of exam entries in vocational1 qualifications by pupils at the end of key stage 4 in 2009 are given in the following table. The figures in the final column of the table are expressed as percentages of the whole cohort who were at the end of key stage 4 in 2009 rather than of those pupils who were entered for the qualification.
1 Qualifications that count in the achievement and attainment tables that are not GCSEs or advanced supplementary GCEs in academic subjects.
Qualification type Qualification subject Percentage of all pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving a pass1 VRQ Level 2 Computer Use 13.2 Basic Skill at Level 2 Numeracy 12.5 Basic Skill at Level 2 Literacy 12.3 General Qualification Level 2 Applied ICT 9.8 VRQ Level 1 Sports Leadership 8.3 Vocational GCSE Single Additional Applied Science 7.2 OCR National Award Level 2 Computer Use 5.5 Basic Skill at Level 1 Numeracy 3.9 BTEC First Certificate Sports Studies 3.7 BTEC First Certificate Applied Sciences 3.6 VRQ Level 2 Preparation for Employment 3.4 Vocational GCSE Double Health and Social Care 3.3 Basic Skill at Level 1 Literacy 3.4 Vocational GCSE Double Applied Science 2.9 General Qualification Level 1 Applied ICT 2.0 VRQ Level 1 Preparation for Employment 2.0 Vocational GCSE Double Applied Business 2.1 BTEC First Diploma Sports Studies 2.1 Key Skill at Level 2 Working with others 1.9 OCR National Cert. Level 2 Computer Use 1.9 1 The figures in the table are expressed as percentages of the whole cohort who were at the end of key stage 4 in 2009 rather than of those pupils who were entered for the qualification.