A rebound within the variety of feminine college students opting to sit down the GCSE computing examination has occurred throughout 2022, with the quantity returning to 2019 ranges after two successive years of decline.
The variety of feminine candidates who studied GCSE computing hit 17,264 this 12 months, which is on a par with the 2019 outcomes, when 17,158 sat exams within the topic.
The intervening years of 2020 and 2021 noticed the variety of feminine college students learning the topic fall to 16,919 and 16,549 respectively, prompting calls from trade consultants for extra to be accomplished to encourage younger girls to examine computing and pursue careers within the fields of science, know-how, engineering and maths (STEM).
The variety of male college students learning the topic remained broadly the identical as in 2021, when 63,415 sat exams in GCSE computing, whereas this 12 months 63,856 have been counted as doing so.
Total, the variety of college students learning the topic rose from 79,964 in 2021 to 81,120 this 12 months, which will be solely attributed to the uptick within the variety of feminine college students who studied it.
The place each sexes are involved, there was a marked year-on-year lower within the variety of college students attaining a 7/A from a excessive of 39.7% in 2021 to 34.1% this 12 months – which is in step with different topics, as famous by the Joint Council for {Qualifications} (JCQ).
The organisation stated outcomes have been larger total in 2022 in contrast with 2019, however have been decrease than 2021 as a result of final 12 months’s outcomes have been based mostly on trainer assessments moderately than exams.
As in earlier years, feminine college students proceed to outperform their male counterparts in computing, with 40.6% women attaining a 7/A grade in contrast with 32.3% boys sitting the topic.
Julia Adamson, director of training on the BCS, Chartered Institute of IT, stated the uptick within the variety of feminine college students sitting the GCSE Computing examination was trigger for celebration – however not complacency.
“It’s incredible information that women proceed to take up laptop science {qualifications} at related ranges to earlier years and obtain good grades,” she stated. “Nevertheless, we can’t be complacent, and we have to see extra women learning this thrilling and artistic topic.
“One factor all of us realized throughout the pandemic is that digital abilities are important for all, offering the instruments to take an energetic half in society, support profession prospects and enhance the UK financial system in the long term.
“I hope that lots of immediately’s pupils will proceed to ship their information on this topic, and I want them each success of their future endeavours,” stated Adamson.
Yr-on-year will increase
Exterior of computing, there have been year-on-year will increase reported for the variety of college students sitting biology (1.3%), physics (1%), double award science (0.9%) and chemistry (0.6%) exams in contrast with 2021, which was accompanied by improved outcomes in all of those topics in contrast with 2019.
Crimson flags have been raised, nonetheless, in regards to the decline within the variety of college students who sat exams in different core STEM topics, with the quantity learning engineering, ICT, arithmetic, additional maths and physics all down by 1.58% this 12 months.
These numbers are an indication that extra work must be accomplished to encourage younger folks to have interaction with STEM topics if there may be any hope of closing the talents hole, stated Agata Nowakowska, space vice-president for Europe, Center East and Africa (EMEA) on-line training supplier Skillsoft.
“With the UK’s financial future contingent on closing the talents hole, these figures spotlight the necessity for additional funding in initiatives to assist and encourage younger folks into the sector,” she stated.
“Faculties and companies must work in tandem to showcase the profession paths out there and supply younger folks a transparent option to achieve the important abilities wanted,” stated Nowakowska. “It’s additionally important to assist organisations akin to In2scienceUK, that are working to assist younger folks from deprived backgrounds get into STEM. On the finish of the day, investing within the youth is an funding sooner or later.”