Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 3 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 February 2010. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 April 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

GCSE and GCE A-level

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils obtaining five GCSEs (a) at grades A* to C and (b) at grades A* to C including English and mathematics also received an equivalent qualification worth (i) four GCSEs and (ii) two GCSEs in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The requested figures are given in the following table.

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving 5+ GCSEs at grade A*-C or the equivalent and at least one:
Qualification¹ equivalent² to two GCSEs	7,428	11,069	38,243	85,935	128,687
Qualification equivalent² to four GCSEs	54,489	70,454	73,308	56,782	72,467

Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving 5+ GCSEs at grade A*-C or the equivalent including English and maths GCSE and at least one:
Qualification¹ equivalent² to two GCSEs	6,302	8,632	26,716	55,506	78,802
Qualification equivalent² to four GCSEs	28,660	37,040	38,087	28,329	34,840
¹ Other than a GCSE double award.
² Equivalent qualifications counted have been passed but not necessarily at the level of A*-C.

Secondary information