To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils with gifted and talented status did not sit any A-levels in (a) 1997, (b) 2003, (c) 2006 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available. (316870)

The Department has collected information about individual pupil’s Gifted and Talented status in Secondary schools since 2006. The information available to answer this question is provided in the following table. Please note that this information covers pupils in school sixth forms only; pupils entered for A-level examinations in sixth form or further education colleges are excluded from the figures.

Pupils identified as gifted and talented are defined as

“Children and young people with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop those abilities)”.

Included are students identified for their talent in, for example, creative arts or sports rather than their ability to excel academically.