Mathematics: GCE A-Level

Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ms Diana R. Johnson
[holding answer 11 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to ethnicity and free school meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1980.

In 2008, nine (42.9 per cent.) white British boys and three (50.0 per cent.) white British girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics. The percentages indicated are of white British students eligible for free school meals of the appropriate gender who were entered for a GCE A-level in further maths.

The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.