IT A-levels on decline again

This year’s A-level results have been published today, with a general upward trend across the board for grades awarded, although the number of students taking IT subjects has fallen again.

The results showed a slight increase in both the number of A grades awarded and the number of students achieving A to E grades. It also highlighted an increase in students taking maths and science courses – although this positive picture was not reflected in technology subjects.

In 2008, 17,345 students took either an ICT or Computing A-level, accounting for just over two per cent of all subjects taken. Last year, just under 19,000 students – roughly 2.5 per cent – opted for a technology subject, while five years ago more than 28,000 sat an IT or Computing A-level.

The continued drop in the number of students choosing technology subjects at A-level could be worrying news for government and the technology industry, which are both trying to encourage more young people to consider IT careers to counter future skills shortages.

The 2008 results also highlight the gender gap in technology education. More than 12,000 male students took an ICT or Computing A-level this year, compared to just over 5,000 females.