Today's Education in the media blog looks at the data released by the exam regulator, Ofqual. The data shows provisional entries to GCSEs and A levels for this year.
Ofqual data
On Thursday 24 May, the exam regulator, Ofqual published provisional data for this year’s GCSE, AS and A level exams.
The data showed that GCSE entries in 2018 increased by just under 1 per cent compared to 2017. GCSE entries in English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects increased by 5 per cent.
There were also significant increases in entries to the sciences with biology up 26 per cent, chemistry 21 per cent and physics 19 per cent. Art and design GCSE entries saw an increase this year.
The government has introduced reforms to further education offering young people more options rather than just studying A levels when they finish their GCSEs. Students can now start an apprenticeship or choose to study vocational qualifications.
This was reported by the Guardian and Independent. The Today programme also interviewed Geoff Barton from the Association of School and College Leaders about GCSEs and the Progress 8 school accountability measure.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
“The Government has worked with employers to reform GCSEs and make them gold-standard qualifications. They will prepare pupils for future success and help deliver the skills Britain needs to be fit for the future. Entries to the core academic EBacc subjects have increased, with over 4 million of these exams being taken this year, including significant increases to those taking the individual sciences.
“These subjects give pupils the best foundation to progress into further education and employment. Thanks to our reforms and the hard work of teachers, academic standards are rising with 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.”
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