Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Thursday, 15 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 October 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

GCSE

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which 10 non-core curriculum subjects the number of GCSE entries was highest in (a) maintained comprehensives, (b) maintained selective, (c) maintained secondary modern and (d) independent schools in 2009.

Answer

[holding answer 20 October 2009]: The information requested is given in the following table:

Most popular non-core subjects by school type, 2009
Rank	Maintained comprehensive	Entries	Maintained selective	Entries	Maintained secondary modern	Entries	Independent schools	Entries
1	English Literature	404,854	English Literature	21,497	English Literature	17,962	English Literature	36,755
2	History	155,557	History	11,918	Art and Design	7,216	French	26,744
3	Religious Studies	139,184	French	11,736	History	6,491	History	23,263
4	Art and Design	138,582	Geography	10,726	Geography	5,997	Geography	21,628
5	Geography	132,079	Religious Studies	8,438	Statistics	5,541	Art and Design	14,906
6	French	123,819	German	7,583	Physical Education	5,441	Religious Studies	13,632
7	Physical Education	117,584	Art and Design	6,426	Religious Studies	5,260	Spanish	11,249
8	Drama	71,807	Spanish	4,885	French	4,588	Classical Studies	8,596
9	Business Studies	62,595	Business Studies	4,832	Media/Film/TV	3,227	Drama	7,937
10	Statistics	61,040	Physical Education	4,738	D and T: Resistant Materials	3,193	German	7,239
Notes:
1. These figures have been derived from the Achievement and Attainment data and cover pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2009.
2. Data for 2009 are provisional and subject to change after school checking.

Secondary information