The number of students taking IT-related A-level subjects
fell again this year.
ICT student numbers fell 2.7% from 12,277 to 11,948, while the
number of computing students fell 7% from 5,068 to 4,710.
The gender divide in technology was also demonstrated by the
figures. There were 7,339 on the ICT course, compared with 4,609
girls, and 4,256 boys took A-level computing, compared with just
454 girls.
Those girls who did take ICT tended to perform very well, with
37.5% of female candidates achieving grade A or B, compared with
26.8% of male candidates.
The overall number of students achieving A grades fell slightly
from 16.1% to 15.7% in computing, but rose from 9.7% to 10.2% in
ICT.
The
continual fall in the number of students taking IT-related
subjects has been causing headaches for the technology industry for
years. The
curriculum for both GCSEs and A-levels has come under fire for
putting students off.
Stephen Kelly, CEO of Micro Focus, said, "Fewer A grades are
achieved in critical core subjects like maths and science than is
needed. The balance towards subjects such as social and media
studies has shifted too far.
"This is a ticking time bomb for UK plc. Many students will
leave school this summer without jobs. The UK market needs students
with science qualifications."
It was not all bad news for science subjects though. The
Department for Children, Schools and Families said the number of
pupils taking maths and further maths A-levels was the highest for
"over a decade". English remains the most popular choice for
students.