GCSE IT entries down by 10,000

The number of students sitting the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) GCSE fell by around 10,000 this summer in comparison to last year.

Results from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) reveal 99,656 students sat the subject this year, compared to 109,601 in 2006.

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A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families suggested the introduction of vocational qualifications - such as Edexcel's Diploma for Digital Applications - means pupils are studying these in place of a GCSE course.

The spokesman told silicon.com: "The decline in the number of ICT GCSE entries doesn't provide an accurate reflection of those studying ICT-related qualifications."

Despite the drop in entries, the proportion of top grades scored in the ICT GCSE went up in 2007.

In total, 65 per cent of entries scored grades of A* to C - up 2.8 per cent on last year - while those getting A* or A grades increased by 1.3 per cent to 21.2 per cent.

In the battle of the sexes, girls convincingly beat boys with 69.3 per cent scoring A* to C grades, compared to 61.5 per cent of boys.

English, maths, and science - which accounted for 46.4 per cent of total 2007 GCSE entries - all saw improvements in results.

Top grades increased in English (up 0.6 per cent) and maths (0.9 per cent) and the JCQ said this indicates that literacy and numeracy skills are improving in 16 year olds.

This counters recent research that suggests many employers feel school-leavers have good IT skills but lack more basic skills, such as good mental arithmetic.