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A-level results show rise in entries for traditional subjects A-level results show rise in entries for traditional subjects
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A-level students have dropped so-called soft subjects such as general studies in favour of more rigorous traditional courses, with geography, history and maths all showing a marked increase in entries.A-level students have dropped so-called soft subjects such as general studies in favour of more rigorous traditional courses, with geography, history and maths all showing a marked increase in entries.
There were 15,000 more entries this year in maths, further maths, modern foreign languages and classical languages, all sciences, English literature, geography and history – the so-called facilitating subjects. These are generally required to get a place at a top university and have seen a 13.3% increase in entries since 2010. This will be seen by government as vindication of a drive to encourage the study of more academic subjects. There were 15,000 more entries this year in maths, further maths, modern foreign languages and classical languages, all sciences, English literature, geography and history – the so-called facilitating subjects. These are generally required to get a place at a top university. There has been a 13.3% increase in such entries since 2010. This will be seen by government as vindication of the drive to encourage the study of more academic subjects.
Computing saw the biggest single increase in the number of A-level entries, up from 4,171 in 2014 to 5,383, a 29% rise. Just 456 candidates this year were female. The biggest single increase in the number of A-level entries was in computing, up from 4,171 in 2014 to 5,383, a 29% rise. This year just 456 candidates in this subject were female.
Modern languages, which have long been in decline, also received a boost, with a 14.4% increase in the numbers studying Spanish, regarded as a vital language in the global business market. Numbers are still small but the increase is significant, up from 7,601 last year to 8,694. The number of students taking German A-level continue to fall, down 4.3% from last year. Modern languages, which have long been in decline, also received a boost, with a 14.4% increase in the numbers studying Spanish, regarded as a vital language in the global business market. Numbers are still small but the increase is significant, up from 7,601 last year to 8,694. The number of students taking German A-level continued to fall, down 4.3% from last year.
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According to the exams regulator Ofqual, which has been analysing exams and results in modern languages amid concern that it has been too difficult to get top grades, there has been an increase this year in the proportion of students achieving the highest grades, with the proportion of students achieving A* increasing by 1.5 percentage points in French and by 0.4 percentage points in Spanish.According to the exams regulator Ofqual, which has been analysing exams and results in modern languages amid concern that it has been too difficult to get top grades, there has been an increase this year in the proportion of students achieving the highest grades, with the proportion of students achieving A* increasing by 1.5 percentage points in French and by 0.4 percentage points in Spanish.
The changes to subject choices are largely being driven by pressure on schools from government to promote the more academic courses included in the English baccalaueate suite of subjects, and a growing awareness among students of the subjects required to get into top universities. The changes to subject choices are largely being driven by pressure on schools from the government to promote the more academic courses included in the English baccalaureate suite of subjects, and a growing awareness among students of the subjects required to get into top universities.
But teachers have said the changing profile of A-level subjects may also reflect the financial squeeze that sixth-form education is facing, with fewer subjects on offer and choices limited to more mainstream courses. Smaller subjects such as music, which saw a 7.2 % drop in entries on last year, may be suffering in the process. But teachers have said the changing profile of A-level subjects may also reflect the financial squeeze that sixth-form education is facing, with fewer subjects on offer and choices limited to more mainstream courses. Smaller subjects such as music, which saw a 7.2 % drop in entries on last year, could be suffering in the process.
The government welcomed the growing number of A-level candidates studying the facilitating subjects, in particular the growing interest in maths, with entries up more than 20% in the last five years. The government welcomed the growing number of A-level candidates studying the facilitating subjects, in particular the growing interest in maths, with entries up more than 20% in this subject in the last five years.
The schools minister Nick Gibb said: “This year’s A-level students are among the best qualified in a generation and I want to congratulate them on today’s results which reflect the dedication of teachers and young people across the country. The schools minister, Nick Gibb, said: “This year’s A-level students are among the best qualified in a generation and I want to congratulate them on today’s results which reflect the dedication of teachers and young people across the country.
“These results provide the clearest proof that the introduction of the EBacc and our drive to persuade more pupils to study core academic subjects has been a success. As a result thousands more pupils from all backgrounds are studying subjects that will secure them a place at a top university or an apprenticeship and that will help to secure well-paid employment.”“These results provide the clearest proof that the introduction of the EBacc and our drive to persuade more pupils to study core academic subjects has been a success. As a result thousands more pupils from all backgrounds are studying subjects that will secure them a place at a top university or an apprenticeship and that will help to secure well-paid employment.”
General studies showed the single biggest decrease this year with a 24.3% drop in entries – 18,092 candidates sat the exam this year, compared with 23,884 in 2014. The contrast with 2010 is even more striking with a 61% drop in the number of candidates.General studies showed the single biggest decrease this year with a 24.3% drop in entries – 18,092 candidates sat the exam this year, compared with 23,884 in 2014. The contrast with 2010 is even more striking with a 61% drop in the number of candidates.
Geography, one of the government’s recognised Ebacc subjects, went up 12.7% from last year. Up too were political studies (9.8%), history (7.1%), further maths (6.9%) and maths (4.4%). Geography, one of the government’s recognised Ebacc subjects, went up 12.7% from last year. Political studies (9.8%), history (7.1%), further maths (6.9%) and maths (4.4%) also rose.
Related: A-level results show falling proportion of top gradesRelated: A-level results show falling proportion of top grades
Numbers taking physics have gone down for the first time since 2006, despite the government’s push to increase science study, though there was a 1.1% increase in female candidates. Numbers taking physics, however, dropped for the first time since 2006, despite the government’s push to increase science study, though there was a 1.1% increase in female candidates.
Charles Tracy, head of the Insitute of Physics, said: “The number of high grades shows that students who choose physics are extremely successful. However, we are concerned that this skewed distribution indicates either that students are self-selecting or that schools are applying a different entry requirement for physics than for other subjects. Either way, we are worried that students are getting the erroneous message that physics is harder than other subjects.” Charles Tracy, head of the Institute of Physics, said: “The number of high grades shows that students who choose physics are extremely successful. However, we are concerned that this skewed distribution indicates either that students are self-selecting or that schools are applying a different entry requirement for physics than for other subjects. Either way, we are worried that students are getting the erroneous message that physics is harder than other subjects.”
There is still concern that too few young women are taking up subjects traditionally dominated by men. The shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, said: “These results remind us that progress on increasing the number of young women taking subjects like physics, maths and computing is still too slow. There is still concern that too few young women are taking up subjects traditionally dominated by men.
“The need to increase options for university-level vocational and technical study is still being ignored. And we saw earlier this week [with the publication of the Sixth Form Colleges Association report into funding] that the ability of many sixth-form institutions to offer the broad and stretching curriculum our young people need to thrive in a modern economy could be under threat.” The shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, said: “These results remind us that progress on increasing the number of young women taking subjects like physics, maths and computing is still too slow. The need to increase options for university-level vocational and technical study is still being ignored. And we saw earlier this week [with the publication of the Sixth Form Colleges Association report on funding] that the ability of many sixth-form institutions to offer the broad and stretching curriculum our young people need to thrive in a modern economy, could be under threat.”
Cherry Ridgway, curriculum and assessment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “I think students are looking carefully at the subjects they need to get into university and schools are helping them with good careers advice to look at what qualifications they need to take the next step. Cherry Ridgway, curriculum and assessment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “I think students are looking carefully at the subjects they need to get into university, and schools are helping them with good careers advice to look at what qualifications they need to take the next step.
“Schools are getting better at that and students are getting better at that. But there is also this element of some subjects not being able to be offered by schools due to funding pressure post-16. “Schools are getting better at that and students are getting better at that. But there is also this element of some subjects not being able to be offered by schools due to funding pressure post-16. Particular subjects that stand out this year are significant drops in music and German, which show a bit of a worrying trend and one we might expect to get worse … given the increase of funding pressures on schools.”
“Particular subjects that stand out this year are significant drops in music and German, which show a bit of a worrying trend and one we might expect to get worse going forward given the increase of funding pressures on schools.” Leslie Davies, vice-president of quality, standards and research at the education firm Pearson, welcomed the increase in students sitting computing exams: “It is great to see computing going up. Everything we see is about coding, and it is a call to code, isn’t it, nowadays if you’re a young person? I think going into the computing industry is something you would certainly look seriously at.”
Leslie Davies, vice-president of quality, standards and research at Pearson, welcomed the increase in students sitting computing exams: “It is great to see computing going up. Everything we see is about coding, and it is a call to code, isn’t it, nowadays if you’re a young person. So I think going into the computing industry is something you would certainly look seriously at.” Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, welcomed the stability of this year’s results compared with last year but raised concern about the decreasing opportunity for students to take more vocational subjects. “Cuts in government funding for post-16 education could result in fewer A-level courses being available, particularly in more vocational subjects such as design and technology and ICT, and is likely to mean that only wealthier students will be able to do more than three A-levels or AS courses,” she said.
Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, welcomed the stability of this year’s results compared with last year but raised concern about the decreasing opportunity for students to take more vocational subjects.
“Cuts in government funding for post-16 education could result in fewer A-level courses being available, particularly in more vocational subjects such as design and technology and ICT, and is likely to mean that only wealthier students will be able to do more than three A-levels or AS courses,” he said.