Computing qualifications

Computing is a broad subject encompassing skills and knowledge from computer science, information technology and digital literacy (Royal Society 2012). This section of the report focuses on the provision of computing qualifications in schools in England, this includes the GCSEs and A levels in computer science and ICT, as well as other qualifications in the digital skills landscape, selected from national data sets where the subject description included “ICT”, “IT”, “computing”, “computer science”, etc. Using this data we have constructed provision tables for the exam years 2011/12 - 2022/23, listing the number of schools offering each subject group, the number of exams taken (students could take multiple “Other Computing” exams), the number of classes provided and the average class size, where the maximum GCSE class size in a school is taken to be n=30, and for A level n=12, rounded up from 11.7 (Parish, Prime, and Day 2017). Additionally we provide the figures on “All computing” provision for each year, that is the number of providers offering any computing qualification in a given year.

A level provision for 2017-20 redacted student numbers for smaller providers, this makes class size and average cohort size hard to calculate for these years.

GCSE computer science reach, being in 66.1 % of schools in 2022/23, is substantially above GCSE ICT reach, which peaked at 42.7 % of providers in 2014/15.
typically, schools offering GCSE ICT had larger subject cohorts (an average of 2.2 classes per school, with 22.6 students in each class) than GCSE computer science (1.4 classes and 19.6 students per class)
77.1 % of schools offered key stage 4 exams in computing related qualifications in 2022/23, a steady rise since 2018/19, but down from a peak of 90.4 % in 2012/13.
Other computing qualifications, often seen a not comparable to the GCSE qualifications (e.g. Thompson 2019), have declined sharply from a peak of 445,570 in 2012/13 to just 28,789 in 2022/23.
the removal of the ICT GCSE in 2017/18 has coincided with an increase in entries of iMedia and Cambridge Nationals. Overall exam entries have remained relatively stable since 2018/19, with 160,567 entries in 2022/23.
the average size of a GCSE computer science cohort has increased from
computing related qualifications were offered at 74 % of key stage 5 providers in 2023, this is a decrease from 84 % of providers in 2014.
whilst the number of A level computer science students have increased substantially, the number entering the AS level qualification have declined. Historically more students took the AS level than the A level.

A separate report looking into uptake of computing qualifications broken down by gender and poverty indicators can be found here.

1 KS4

Table 1.1: Key stage 4 computing provision, 2012-23

	Subject							All computing
		schools	%	exams	classes	classes per school	avg class size	schools	%
2023	Computer Science	3139	66.1%	87,520	4,465	1.4	19.6	3665	77.1%
	Other Computing	935	19.7%	28,789	1,550	1.4	18.6	3665	77.1%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	1474	31.0%	44,258	2,231	1.5	19.8	3665	77.1%
2022	Computer Science	2961	62.9%	78,165	4,047	1.4	19.3	3556	75.5%
	Other Computing	948	20.1%	32,298	1,703	1.5	19.0	3556	75.5%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	1491	31.7%	49,167	2,402	1.6	20.5	3556	75.5%
2021	Computer Science	2872	62.0%	75,692	3,943	1.4	19.2	3463	74.7%
	Other Computing	946	20.4%	32,917	1,699	1.5	19.4	3463	74.7%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	1423	30.7%	48,815	2,345	1.6	20.8	3463	74.7%
2019	Computer Science	2970	63.9%	77,302	4,066	1.4	19.0	3458	74.4%
	Other Computing	1378	29.7%	51,154	2,647	1.6	19.3	3458	74.4%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	964	20.7%	32,299	1,606	1.6	20.1	3458	74.4%
2018	Computer Science	2827	61.3%	70,061	3,797	1.3	18.5	3639	78.9%
	ICT	1259	27.3%	43,974	2,135	1.7	20.6	3639	78.9%
	Other Computing	1533	33.2%	54,833	3,043	1.5	18.0	3639	78.9%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	694	15.0%	20,394	1,068	1.5	19.1	3639	78.9%
2017	Computer Science	2686	58.5%	68,992	3,672	1.4	18.8	3837	83.5%
	ICT	1703	37.1%	60,957	2,964	1.7	20.6	3837	83.5%
	Other Computing	2782	60.5%	184,877	8,347	2.3	22.1	3837	83.5%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	602	13.1%	18,302	963	1.6	19.0	3837	83.5%
2016	Computer Science	2355	51.1%	61,938	3,272	1.4	18.9	3748	81.3%
	ICT	1753	38.0%	72,964	3,394	1.9	21.5	3748	81.3%
	Other Computing	2562	55.6%	171,104	8,151	2.0	21.0	3748	81.3%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	890	19.3%	39,386	1,837	2.1	21.4	3748	81.3%
2015	Computer Science	1446	31.7%	33,492	1,862	1.3	18.0	3634	79.6%
	ICT	1947	42.7%	100,467	4,437	2.2	22.6	3634	79.6%
	Other Computing	2158	47.3%	135,193	6,438	2.0	21.0	3634	79.6%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	1080	23.7%	67,249	2,853	2.6	23.6	3634	79.6%
2014	Computer Science	719	16.0%	15,780	899	1.3	17.6	3410	75.9%
	ICT	1731	38.5%	84,345	3,788	2.1	22.3	3410	75.9%
	Other Computing	2476	55.1%	162,690	7,694	2.0	21.1	3410	75.9%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	7	0.2%	68	7	1.0	9.7	3410	75.9%
2013	Computer Science	206	4.3%	4,017	244	1.2	16.5	4287	90.4%
	ICT	1487	31.4%	67,660	3,317	1.9	20.4	4287	90.4%
	Other Computing	3950	83.3%	445,570	23,979	1.8	18.6	4287	90.4%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	122	2.6%	1,458	152	1.2	9.6	4287	90.4%
2012	Computer Science	96	2.0%	1,700	109	1.1	15.6	4128	87.8%
	ICT	1245	26.5%	54,289	2,755	1.8	19.7	4128	87.8%
	Other Computing	3721	79.1%	287,621	17,430	1.5	16.5	4128	87.8%
	iMedia and Cambridge nationals	242	5.1%	2,193	370	1.1	5.9	4128	87.8%
The maximum class size used for KS4 subjects is 30

Figure 1.1: Key stage 4 providers offering any computing qualifications

Figure 1.2: Key stage 4 providers offering each computing qualification, by subject and year

Figure 1.3: Key stage 4 computing qualifications taken, by subject and year

Figure 1.4: Key stage 4 computing qualifications taken, by year

Figure 1.5: Box plot of GCSE provider cohort sizes, 2022/23

Steps of 4 years

Figure 1.6: Density plot of GCSE Computer Science provider cohort sizes

Figure 1.7: Density plot of cohort entry for computing GCSEs

Figure 1.8: Binned cohort % plot of cohort entry for computing GCSEs

type	gender	schools	% cohort	classes
type	gender	schools	% cohort	1	2	3	4	5
Comprehensive	Boys	85	21.9%	56.5%	37.6%	4.7%	1.2%	—
Comprehensive	Girls	115	11.2%	89.6%	10.4%	—	—	—
Comprehensive	Mixed	2270	15.4%	66.0%	30.9%	2.7%	0.4%	—
Grammar	Boys	53	34.0%	15.1%	60.4%	18.9%	3.8%	1.9%
Grammar	Girls	58	21.5%	53.4%	36.2%	10.3%	—	—
Grammar	Mixed	45	28.4%	33.3%	46.7%	20.0%	—	—
Independent	Boys	39	33.1%	59.0%	33.3%	7.7%	—	—
Independent	Girls	92	18.3%	94.6%	5.4%	—	—	—
Independent	Mixed	317	19.3%	89.0%	10.7%	0.3%	—	—
maxmimum class size 33 students

2 KS5

	Subject							All computing
		schools	%	exams	classes	classes per school	avg class size	schools	%
2023	Computer science A level	1572	57.2%	17,414	2,346	1.5	7.4	2021	73.6%
	Computer science AS	198	7.2%	1,267	253	1.3	5.0	2021	73.6%
	Other Computing	993	36.2%	20,421	2,785	1.5	7.3	2021	73.6%
2022	Computer science A level	1488	54.4%	14,863	2,085	1.4	7.1	1945	71.1%
	Computer science AS	173	6.3%	1,037	213	1.2	4.9	1945	71.1%
	Other Computing	994	36.3%	20,957	2,808	1.6	7.5	1945	71.1%
2021	Computer science A level	1422	52.0%	13,826	1,985	1.4	7.0	1884	68.9%
2021	Other Computing	944	34.5%	17,769	2,220	1.7	8.0	1884	68.9%
2019	Computer science A level	1314	46.6%	8,098	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
	Computer science AS	561	19.9%	2,277	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
	ICT A level	39	1.4%	9	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
	ICT AS	284	10.1%	333	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
	ICT Applied	59	2.1%	34	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
	Other Computing	1266	44.9%	9,515	-	-	-	2073	73.5%
2018	Computer science A level	1225	42.8%	7,246	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
	Computer science AS	836	29.2%	5,071	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
	ICT A level	436	15.2%	3,247	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
	ICT AS	549	19.2%	6,117	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
	ICT Applied	229	8.0%	858	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
	Other Computing	1187	41.5%	11,341	-	-	-	2172	75.9%
2017	Computer science A level	1036	35.4%	5,484	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
	Computer science AS	1055	36.1%	8,969	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
	ICT A level	614	21.0%	4,219	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
	ICT AS	726	24.8%	9,080	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
	ICT Applied	394	13.5%	3,258	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
	Other Computing	1425	48.7%	19,030	-	-	-	2391	81.8%
2016	Computer science A level	833	28.0%	5,433	983	1.2	5.5	2434	81.9%
	Computer science AS	1000	33.6%	12,415	1,649	1.6	7.5	2434	81.9%
	ICT A level	745	25.1%	6,092	955	1.3	6.4	2434	81.9%
	ICT AS	855	28.8%	12,554	1,544	1.8	8.1	2434	81.9%
	ICT Applied	517	17.4%	10,799	1,468	1.5	7.4	2434	81.9%
	Other Computing	1438	48.4%	30,437	-	-	-	2434	81.9%
2015	Computer science A level	695	23.9%	4,706	837	1.2	5.6	2418	83.3%
	Computer science AS	846	29.1%	7,800	1,184	1.4	6.6	2418	83.3%
	ICT A level	820	28.2%	6,413	1,033	1.3	6.2	2418	83.3%
	ICT AS	939	32.3%	8,981	1,321	1.4	6.8	2418	83.3%
	ICT Applied	621	21.4%	10,381	1,605	1.3	6.5	2418	83.3%
	Other Computing	1478	50.9%	52,775	7,586	1.5	7.0	2418	83.3%
2014	Computer science A level	541	18.8%	3,615	648	1.2	5.6	2386	83.1%
	Computer science AS	693	24.1%	6,050	946	1.4	6.4	2386	83.1%
	ICT A level	846	29.5%	6,745	1,094	1.3	6.2	2386	83.1%
	ICT AS	960	33.4%	9,606	1,402	1.5	6.9	2386	83.1%
	ICT Applied	739	25.7%	12,961	1,937	1.4	6.7	2386	83.1%
	Other Computing	1424	49.6%	49,599	7,190	1.5	6.9	2386	83.1%
2013	Computer science A level	468	16.5%	3,268	573	1.2	5.7	2380	84.1%
	Computer science AS	577	20.4%	5,305	809	1.4	6.6	2380	84.1%
	ICT A level	839	29.6%	7,254	1,120	1.3	6.5	2380	84.1%
	ICT AS	969	34.2%	10,491	1,471	1.5	7.1	2380	84.1%
	ICT Applied	804	28.4%	16,516	2,327	1.5	7.1	2380	84.1%
	Other Computing	1373	48.5%	43,051	6,229	1.5	6.9	2380	84.1%
2012	Computer science A level	475	17.1%	3,335	585	1.2	5.7	2342	84.4%
	Computer science AS	552	19.9%	5,285	778	1.4	6.8	2342	84.4%
	ICT A level	885	31.9%	7,876	1,200	1.4	6.6	2342	84.4%
	ICT AS	988	35.6%	11,506	1,554	1.6	7.4	2342	84.4%
	ICT Applied	863	31.1%	18,127	2,479	1.5	7.3	2342	84.4%
	Other Computing	1209	43.6%	32,780	4,816	1.5	6.8	2342	84.4%
The maximum class size used for KS5 subjects is 12

Figure 2.1: Density plot of A level Computer Science provider cohort sizes

Figure 2.2: Key stage 5 providers offering any computing qualifications

Figure 2.3: Key stage 5 providers offering each computing qualification, by subject and year

Figure 2.4: Key stage 5 computing qualifications taken, by subject and year

Figure 2.5: Key stage 5 computing qualifications taken, by year

Figure 2.6: Box plot of A level provider cohort sizes, 2022/23

Steps of 4 years 2018 redacted data? hence missing smaller values?

Density plot of A level Computer Science provider cohort sizes

type	gender	schools	% cohort	classes
type	gender	schools	% cohort	1	2	3	4	5	6
Comprehensive	Boys	51	8.3%	96.1%	2.0%	2.0%	—	—	—
Comprehensive	Girls	51	4.5%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
Comprehensive	Mixed	1198	3.7%	93.3%	4.5%	1.3%	0.7%	0.1%	0.1%
Comprehensive	—	1	7.3%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
Grammar	Boys	59	9.5%	88.1%	10.2%	1.7%	—	—	—
Grammar	Girls	56	4.7%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
Grammar	Mixed	48	6.6%	95.8%	4.2%	—	—	—	—
Independent	Boys	22	6.3%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
Independent	Girls	57	4.1%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
Independent	Mixed	227	5.6%	100.0%	—	—	—	—	—
maxmimum class size 30 students

References

Parish, Natalie, Verity Prime, and Simon Day. 2017. Understanding Costs of a Level Provision via the Decision Making Process Behind Class Sizes. Department for Education. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/28773/1/DfE_Cost_of_A_levels_Class_sizes_report.pdf1.pdf.

Royal Society. 2012. “Shut down or Restart?” 2012. https://royalsociety.org/~/media/education/computing-in-schools/2012-01-12-computing-in-schools.pdf.

Thompson, Dave. 2019. “Are Some Qualifications Scored Too Generously?” FFT education datalab. 2019. https://ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2019/09/are-some-qualifications-scored-too-generously/.