The variety of college students selecting to sit down A-level computing has been rising over the previous 4 years, in line with statistics from the Joint Council for {Qualifications}.
In 2022, 15,693 college students selected to sit down the A-level computing examination, an 11.27% improve from 13,829 the earlier yr.
Although college students had been unable to sit down bodily exams in 2020 attributable to pandemic shutdowns, there have been nonetheless extra computing A-level candidates than in 2019, rising from 11,124 in 2019 to 12,426 the next yr.
Gareth Stockdale, CEO of Micro:bit Academic Basis, stated: “Computing has established itself as a core topic at A-level, with extra college students selecting to review it than French and English Language. It’s persevering with to develop too, with a 17.6% improve in scholar numbers this yr.
“That is improbable progress for a topic that was solely launched to the curriculum in 2014, opening up rewarding careers to extra folks and giving a much-needed enhance to the nation’s digital abilities.”
Not solely is the know-how sector missing in expert staff, however there may be additionally a scarcity of girls, with the variety of girls making up technical roles within the UK solely rising by 1% prior to now 5 years.
In the case of the gender break up of pupils selecting to sit down A-level computing exams, feminine college students now account for nearly 15% of candidates, a rise of 15.8% year-on-year, from 2,031 in 2021 to 2,352 this yr.
However ladies are nonetheless considerably outnumbered by the 13,341 male candidates who selected to take the topic this yr – and in lots of different science, know-how, engineering and maths (STEM) topics, the variety of feminine candidates decreased this yr.
Agata Nowakowska, space vice-president of Europe, Center East and Africa (EMEA) at Skillsoft, described it as a “disappointing” development which can point out the expansion of girls in tech over the following 5 years could also be equally as gradual.
“Whereas the know-how trade continues to develop quickly, a range hole stays. At the moment, girls make up simply 17% of the UK tech sector, signalling little progress over the past decade,” he stated. “It’s disappointing to see that this development is ready to proceed, with this yr’s A-level outcomes exhibiting the share of ladies taking maths, additional maths and physics has decreased this yr.”
The Covid-19 pandemic meant that 2020 and 2021 grades had been calculated with out college students taking paper-based exams utilizing a mix of information together with mock examination outcomes, coursework grades, instructor predictions and centre evaluation grades submitted by colleges and faculties.
This yr, college students discovered themselves again within the examination room, with many speculating that is what has led to a year-on-year drop in grade attainment.
There was a year-on-year drop in each degree of grade attainment this yr. For instance, solely 14.5% of scholars achieved an A* grade this yr, whereas 19.9% achieved the identical end in 2021, and 76.5% of scholars achieved at the least a C grade in 2022, versus 87.2% the earlier yr.
However many are claiming the true comparability ought to be between this yr’s grades and people achieved in 2019, earlier than the pandemic, when college students had been sitting conventional exams.
When evaluating 2022 and 2019, these reaching greater grades has grown considerably, from 3.4% in 2019 to 14.5% in 2022 for A* grades, and from 63.3% in 2019 to 76.5% in 2022 for these reaching at the least a C or above.
Some tech trade professionals are encouraging pupils to look past their A-level grades and, if crucial, pursue different routes into tech than college.
Kelly Nicholls, CEO of TechSkills, a TechUK firm, stated: “While a level route is nice in the event you obtain the entry necessities, there are a lot of different methods right into a tech profession. For instance, a level apprenticeship is an thrilling, extremely motivational earn-as-you-learn various with no college charges.
“The tech trade needs new expertise throughout all sectors to fill a broad vary of job roles. You don’t must be an skilled or proficient tech individual to entry tech programs. If in case you have the fervour and drive to be taught new abilities, you’ll be able to thrive within the topic. We look ahead to a extra various cohort of scholars selecting a profession in tech sooner or later.”