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Concern over GCSE computer science uptake

GCSEs and A Levels Computing and STEM
Only a minority of schools entered students for a GCSE in computer science in 2015, despite the fact it is a compulsory national curriculum subject at key stage 4.

Research by the University of Roehampton has analysed the uptake of computing qualifications at GCSE and A level.

It finds that just 28.5 per cent of schools in England entered pupils for a computing GCSE in 2015, while only 24 per cent of providers entered students for an A level in the subject.

Furthermore, although computing is a foundation subject – one which all local authority schools should offer at each key stage – it is not widely continued at GCSE and A level, the report finds. Only a fraction of pupils choose – or have the option to choose – to take qualifications at GCSE (5.5 per cent) or A level (1.7 per cent).

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