Official Statistics

Highlights, Summer Series 2020 29 May 2020

Figure 1: Summer GCSE entries About this release 400,000 This statistical release 334,095 There were 307,925 305,745 307,925 290,640 provides information on 300,000 GCSE entries for the the provisional number Summer 2020 series. 200,000 of exam entries in Wales for the summer 2020 100,000 0.7% increase in series. The release covers GCSE entries 0 GCSE, AS, A level, Level 2017 2018 2019 2020 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual 1/2 certificates and Skills Challenge Certificate Figure 2: Summer GCSE entries by year group entries for centres in 300,000 Wales. The data was Year 11 submitted to us by 200,000 entries awarding bodies by 4 down by 100,000 May ahead of the summer 2020 series. 0.1% 0 These statistics have 2017 2018 2019 2020 Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above been published as official

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual statistics.

Figure 3: Summer AS and A level entries Contents 1.9% 50,000 Introduction…………….. 2 increase in AS 40,000 level entries 30,000 Statistics…….…...... 6 20,000 4.5% 10,000 Glossary of terms..….. 33 decrease in A 0 2017 2018 2019 2020 Background notes...... 35 level entries AS A level Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

Statistician: Jonathan Davey 01633 373 261 [email protected]

Media enquiries: Alan Morris 01633 373 216 [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Qualifications Wales is the regulator of qualifications, other than degrees, and the qualifications system in Wales.

From summer 2018, we have collected and reported on data for Wales for general qualifications. Before summer 2018, data for Wales was collected and published by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England. Data in this release relating to summer 2017 were collected and published by Ofqual.

In this release, we present data on the number of entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels, Level 1 and Level 2 Certificates and Skills Challenge Certificate in Wales for the summer 2020 exam series.

COVID-19

On 18 March 2020, the Minister for Education Kirsty Williams announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer 2020 exam series would not proceed as planned1. Learners due to sit their GCSEs and A levels this summer are due to be awarded a fair grade to recognise their work, drawing on the range of information available.

Despite the unique circumstances surrounding the summer 2020 exam series, provisional entries data has been collected as it normally would. The one change made was to delay the data collection deadline from mid-April to early May to help ease the burden on awarding bodies during an extremely busy and challenging period.

The figures represent the number of qualification entries, rounded to the nearest 5, submitted by awarding bodies by 4 May 2020, reflecting the position at 14 April 2020. The number of entries can change after this date. However, as most entries are made before mid-March, the impact of exam centres closing on the statistics reported in this release is likely to be small. Individual students would usually have more than one qualification entry across subjects.

1 https://gov.wales/statement-minster-education-kirsty-williams-school-closures-wales

EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

There are a number of factors that can influence why entries for year groups might change over time, for example changes to:

• population size; • entry behaviour e.g. when learners are entered for their GCSEs; • the number of qualifications of each type being taken on average, for example, the number of AS levels being studied; • the types of qualifications being taken in post-16.

The latest available official statistics on the Wales population aged 16, 17 or 18 years old are the population projections published by the Welsh Government2. These show a 3.8% decrease in the population of 18-year-olds in 2020 compared to 2019 but a 1.9% increase for 16-year-olds and a 0.6% increase for 17-year-olds. These changes might mean an upward influence from population on GCSE and AS entries and a downward influence on A level entries.

Table 1: Wales Population Changes Year 16-year-olds 17-year-olds 18-year-olds 2020 33,625 33,149 33,355 2019 33,002 32,939 34,685 Change (2020 - 2019) 623 210 -1,330 Percentage change ((2020 - 2019) / 2019) 1.9% 0.6% -3.8% Source: Welsh Government

As this release is based on counts of entries at qualification level it is not possible for us to quantify the impact of such factors. We have commented on factors influencing changes in entries only where we are confident that these factors are likely to be associated with a change.

2 https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and- Migration/Population/Projections/National/2016-based/populationprojections-by-year-age

Qualification reform

Following the Welsh Government’s review of qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds3 in 2012, a new set of reformed qualifications for GCSEs, AS, and A levels have been introduced in Wales. These reformed qualifications have been designed specifically to meet the needs of learners in Wales.

The reformed qualifications were introduced for first teaching in three phases. Phase 1 qualifications were taught from September 2015, Phase 2 from September 2016 and Phase 3 from September 2017. Information about these changes, and a list of the subjects included in each phase can be found on our website4. All reformed qualifications have been previously awarded and there are no qualifications that are being awarded in 2020 for the first time.

In this release the terms “approved GCSEs”, “approved AS levels”, and “approved A levels”, refer to the new qualifications designed specifically for Wales, unless otherwise stated.

Further information around qualification reform is included in the Background Notes section of this release.

Performance measures

In October 2017 changes were announced to how Welsh Government calculates performance measures. From summer 2019, only a pupil’s first entry to a GCSE exam will count towards school performance measures. Previously the best grade achieved counted. The number of reserved slots for literacy, numeracy and science GCSEs was reduced from five to three, leaving six unreserved slots for other qualifications that are eligible for public funding in Wales. In the literacy slot, the ‘best of the first’ grades achieved in the English Language, English Literature, Welsh Language or Welsh Literature GCSE will count. In the numeracy slot, the ‘best of the first’ grades achieved in the Mathematics or Mathematics-Numeracy GCSE will count. In the science slot, the

3 Welsh Government (2014) Review of Qualifications 14-19. [online]. Available from: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-02/review-of-qualifications-for-14-to-19-year- olds-in-wales-final-report-and-recommendations_0.pdf 4 http://qualificationswales.org/english/qualifications/gcses-and-a-levels/gq-reform/what-subjects-are- available/

‘best of the first’ grades in the Science GCSEs will count, with the higher grade in the double award qualifications counting.

Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)

A new Welsh Bacc was introduced for first teaching from September 2015. The reformed Welsh Bacc is made up of the Skills Challenge Certificate qualification and supporting qualifications5. Entries for the Skills Challenge Certificate are included in the statistics in this publication.

5 https://qualificationswales.org/english/qualifications/welsh-baccalaureate/

STATISTICS

GCSE ENTRIES Figure 4: GCSE total entries by year group

300,000

200,000

100,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020 Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

• There were 307,925 GCSE entries for summer 2020. This is up by 0.7% compared to GCSE entries for summer 2019. • The small increase in total GCSE entries this summer compared to the previous summer was mainly driven by increases in Year 10 and Year 12 entries. • Year 11 represents a pupil’s final year in compulsory schooling. This year group are the most likely to enter for GCSEs in the summer, accounting for 88.9% of total GCSE entries in summer 2020. Year 11 entries remained stable, decreasing by 0.1% compared to summer 2019. • Year 10 or below entries contributed 5.5% of all GCSE entries this summer, up from 4.9% last summer. • Year 12 or above entries made up 5.5%, unchanged from last summer.

APPROVED GCSES All three phases of approved GCSEs will be awarded this summer.

291,995 (94.8%) of the total summer 2020 GCSE entries were for these qualifications. The remainder of the GCSE entries this summer were for legacy qualifications (which may include resits), unreformed subjects or qualifications reformed for use primarily in England (see section on qualification reform in Background Notes).

PHASE 1 REFORM Approved phase 1 GCSE entries accounted for 43.7% of total GCSE entries for summer 2020. 2017 was the first summer exam series in which these GCSEs were awarded.

Figure 5 : Approved phase 1 GCSE entries by year group

125,000

100,000 Total entries for approved

75,000 phase 1 GCSEs increased by 0.8% to 134,615 entries in 50,000 summer 2020. A 3.8%

25,000 increase in English Language entries was the 0 2017 2018 2019 2020 main driver behind this overall increase (Table 2). Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual A 0.9% decrease in year 11 entries was offset by increases of 13.0% and Table 2 : Approved phase 1 GCSE entries by subject 13.2% for the year 10 and Percentage Subject 2020 2019 year 12 age groups change English Language 37,665 36,270 3.8% respectively. The year 10 English Literature 28,185 29,055 -3.0% increase was primarily Mathematics 34,960 34,570 1.1% driven by English Language Mathematics - Numeracy 24,645 24,695 -0.2% and English Literature. Welsh Language 5,430 5,220 4.0% Welsh Literature 3,735 3,695 1.1% Total 134,615 133,500 0.8% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Year 12 entries increased from 6,480 in summer 2019 to 7,335 in summer 2020. This increase is driven by a rise in entries for English Language and Mathematics, many of which are likely to be resits. Learners also had the opportunity to resit these qualifications in November 2019. However, for these linear subjects, all units must be re- taken within the same series, which may have meant more learners waiting until the summer to resit the qualification. In contrast to Year 12, Year 13 and above entries decreased by 4.3% this summer compared to last summer.

Year on year changes for Year 11 entries are likely to be impacted by population increase and changes to performance measures (see external influences).

Further analysis for English, English Literature, Mathematics and Mathematics – Numeracy is included in the larger entry GCSE subject breakdown below.

PHASE 2 REFORM Table 3: Approved phase 2 GCSE by subject Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Applied Science (Double Award) 3,625 2,830 28.2% Applied Science (Single Award) 1,745 855 104.0% Art and Design 9,045 8,875 1.9% Biology 7,945 7,360 7.9% Chemistry 7,700 7,250 6.2% Drama 2,325 2,240 3.8% Food and Nutrition 1,970 2,120 -7.2% French 3,040 3,025 0.4% Geography 7,435 7,290 2.0% German 565 570 -1.1% Music 2,210 2,185 1.2% Physical Education 6,520 6,615 -1.4% Physics 7,530 6,990 7.7% Science (Double Award) 36,760 40,050 -8.2% Spanish 1,135 1,425 -20.2% Total 99,540 99,675 -0.1%

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales; (1) Entries into Science: Double Award qualifications are counted as two entries in this release. This is because the qualification size of the reformed qualifications is equivalent to two GCSEs. The approach is also consistent with how entry data for the reformed GCSEs within the ‘Science: Double Award’ subject group will be reported elsewhere.

Table 3 shows entries for approved phase 2 GCSEs in summer 2020, which is the third summer that learners have the opportunity to achieve a grade in these qualifications. There were 99,540 entries for these qualifications in summer 2020, a decrease of 0.1%. These entries accounted for 32.3% of all GCSE entries this summer. The majority (98.5%) were from Year 11 learners. Overall entries to the science suite (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science (Double Award), Applied Science (Single Award), Applied Science (Double Award)) remained stable at 65,305 compared to last summer. There was an 8.2% decrease in Science (Double Award) entries, offsetting increases for each of the other science suite qualifications. Modern foreign language entries were 4,740, which is 5.6% fewer than last year and 11.9% fewer than summer 2018. The decrease this summer was mainly driven by the 20.2% decrease for Spanish.

PHASE 3 REFORM Table 4: Approved phase 3 GCSE by subject Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Business 3,240 2,950 9.8% Computer Science 2,015 1,950 3.3% Design and Technology 5,225 5,460 -4.3% History 9,520 9,520 0.0% Media Studies 1,470 1,365 7.9% Physical Education (Short Course) 370 430 -13.9% Religious Studies (Short Course) 5,010 6,010 -16.6% Religious Studies 9,805 9,905 -1.0% Welsh Second Language 21,185 19,670 7.7% Total 57,835 57,260 1.0%

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

There were 57,835 approved phase 3 entries in summer 2020, a small increase on the 57,260 entries last summer. These entries accounted for 18.8% of all GCSE entries this summer. Welsh Second Language, which saw a 7.7% rise in entries compared to last summer, now accounts for 36.6% of the phase 3 entry with 21,185 entries - 97.5% of which were Year 11 candidates. Religious Studies (9,805) and History (9,520) were the second and third most entered for phase 3 qualifications, accounting for 16.9% and 16.5% of the total phase 3 entries, respectively. Overall, there were 1,100 fewer Religious Studies entries in summer 2020, largely accounted for by a 16.6% reduction in Religious Studies (Short Course).

GCSE SUMMER TOTAL ENTRIES BY SUBJECT Table 5: GCSE total entries by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019 Percentage GCSE Subject 2020 2019 Change Additional Science 0 0 - Additional Science (Further) 0 0 - Art and Design subjects 9,225 9,060 1.8% Biology 8,210 7,590 8.2% Business & Comm. Systems 0 0 - Business Studies 3,355 3,035 10.6% Chemistry 7,960 7,475 6.5% Citizenship Studies 50 85 -41.4% Classical subjects 120 90 30.4% Computing 2,075 2,005 3.6% Design & Technology 5,300 5,530 -4.2% Drama 2,435 2,350 3.6% Economics 100 95 7.4% Engineering 0 0 - Table 5 compares total English 38,125 36,630 4.1% English Literature 28,575 29,355 -2.7% summer GCSE entries for 2020 Food Preparation and Nutrition 1,995 2,145 -7.1% and 2019 by subject. These French 3,175 3,150 0.9% Geography 7,655 7,560 1.3% figures include legacy GCSEs, German 635 645 -1.1% Health & Social Care 1,510 1,385 8.9% reformed GCSEs for Wales and History 9,730 9,700 0.4% reformed GCSEs for England. Home Economics 1,575 1,550 1.5% Hospitality 0 0 - Humanities 0 0 - 25 subjects saw increased ICT 5,960 5,875 1.4% entry in summer 2020, while Leisure & Tourism 0 0 - Manufacturing 0 0 - another 13 saw a reduction in Mathematics 35,360 34,995 1.0% entries. 11 subjects with no Mathematics: Numeracy 24,645 24,695 -0.2% Media / Film / TV Studies 1,595 1,460 9.4% entries across either year were Music 2,285 2,255 1.3% Performing / Expressive Arts 15 40 -56.4% unchanged. Physical Education 6,945 7,160 -3.0% Physics 7,790 7,210 8.0% Prep. For Life and Work 0 0 - Religious Studies 14,990 16,135 -7.1% Science 1,745 860 102.6% Science: Double Award (a) 40,660 43,100 -5.7% Social Science subjects 1,410 1,140 23.3% Spanish 1,270 1,555 -18.3% Statistics 305 275 10.5% Welsh Literature 3,735 3,695 1.1% Welsh: First Language 5,430 5,220 4.0% Welsh: Second Language 21,185 19,670 7.7% Other Modern Languages 515 600 -14.3% Other Sciences 280 365 -23.6% Other Technology 0 0 - All Other subjects 0 0 - Total Entries 307,925 305,745 0.7% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales 11

Figure 6: Summer 2020 GCSE total entries broken down by subject

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000

Science: Double Award English Mathematics English Literature Mathematics: Numeracy Welsh: Second Language Religious Studies History Art and Design subjects Biology Chemistry Physics Geography Physical Education ICT Welsh: First Language Design & Technology Welsh Literature Business Studies French Drama Music Computing Food Preparation and Nutrition Science Media / Film / TV Studies Home Economics Health & Social Care Social Science subjects Spanish German Other Modern Languages Statistics Other Sciences Classical subjects Economics Citizenship Studies Performing / Expressive Arts All Other subjects Other Technology Prep. For Life and Work Manufacturing Leisure & Tourism Humanities Hospitality Engineering Business & Comm. Systems Additional Science (Further) Additional Science

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales 12

LARGER ENTRY GCSE SUBJECT TOTAL ENTRIES BY YEAR GROUP, SUMMER 2020 As shown in figure 6 the top 5 GCSE entry subjects in summer 2020 were Science: Double Award, English, Mathematics, English Literature, and Mathematics: Numeracy. Below we look at these subjects in more detail.

Science: Double Award

This summer is the third award of the approved Science: Double Award qualifications. Entries into Science: Double Award qualifications are counted as two entries in this release. This is because the qualification size of the approved qualifications is equivalent to two GCSEs. The approach is also consistent with how entry data for the reformed GCSEs within the ‘Science: Double Award’ subject group will be reported elsewhere.

Figure 7: GCSE Science: Double Award year group comparisons

45,000

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2018 2019 2020

Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 6: GCSE Science: Double Award by year group

Year 9 or Year 13 or Science: Double Award Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Total below above 2020 * 10 40,370 240 40 40,660 2019 0 * 42,755 320 20 43,100 2018 0 10 42,510 220 5 42,740 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales GCSE Science: Double Award had 40,660 entries for summer 2020, 5.7% fewer than the previous summer. All other GCSEs in the science suite have seen increases in entries in

13 summer 2020 compared to summer 2019: Biology (8.2%), Chemistry (6.5%), Physics (8.0%) and Science (102.6%) - see Table 5.

GCSE English

Figure 8: GCSE English year group comparisons

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

Table 7: English Entries by year group

English Year 9 or Year 13 or Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Total Language below above 2020 10 855 30,030 3,600 3,635 38,125 2019 10 270 29,530 2,985 3,835 36,630 2018 5 805 20,610 2,730 3,735 27,890 2017 10 21,090 31,115 2,945 3,885 59,045 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

• There were 38,125 entries for GCSE English in summer 2020, an increase of 1,500 (4.1%). • The announcement regarding calculation of school performance measures using first grade achieved in language or literature (see performance measures) may have contributed to changes in Year 10 entries. • Year 10 or below entries make up 2.3% of entries for GCSE English this summer series, an increase compared to only 0.8% of entries for summer 2019.

• Year 11 entries make up 78.8% of the total entry this year compared to 80.6% last year. • The proportion of entries accounted for by Year 12 or above is slightly higher this year, making up 19.0% of entries, compared to 18.6% of entries last year. • The first summer award (2017) of approved GCSE English had a large Year 10 entry, many of whom did not return in summer 2018.

GCSE English Literature

Figure 9: GCSE English Literature year group comparisons

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

Table 8: English Literature Entries by year group

English Year 9 or Year 13 or Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Total Literature below above 2020 * 10,090 18,360 100 25 28,575 2019 * 9,360 19,860 125 10 29,355 2018 * 5,195 18,805 105 20 24,125 2017 * 2,055 14,640 75 10 16,780 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Approved GCSE English Literature has counted towards the literacy element of school performance measures since summer 2019. GCSE English Literature may only be

15 awarded during the summer series6, therefore this summer is the fourth opportunity to achieve the reformed GCSE.

• The total number of entries for GCSE English Literature was 28,575 (2.7% decrease in summer 2020 compared to summer 2019). • The Year 11 entry for GCSE English Literature is substantially smaller than the Year 11 entry for GCSE English Language. This has been true for each summer from summer 2017 onwards. • Year 11 entries make up 64.3% of total English Literature entries for summer 2020, a slight decrease on 67.6% in summer 2019. • Year 12 or above entries make up 0.4% for summer 2020, down slightly from 0.5% last year. • The proportion of Year 10 or below entries rose in summer 2020, making up 35.3% of total English Literature entries this year, compared to 31.9% of entries last year. Changes to the calculation of school performance measures using first grade achieved in language or literature (see performance measures) may be contributing to this increasing Year 10 entry over time. • The largest increase was for Year 10, with an increase of 730 entries (7.8%). • The smaller Year 11 entry in summer 2017 was because a substantial proportion of the cohort had entered the legacy qualification in summer 2016, when they were in Year 107.

6 Reformed GCSE English Literature is unitised, and there is a unit available to be entered in the January series 7 Ofqual figures showed that there was a higher number of year 10 and below entries in Summer 2016 (7,570 entries), with the proportion of year 10 and below in Summer 2016 being approximately 25 % (See Ofqual (2017) Provisional entries for summer 2017 series for Wales. [online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/619382/Summer_2017_ex am_entries_GCSEs_Level_1_2_AS_and_A_levels_Wales.xlsx)

GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy

GCSE Mathematics had the third largest number of provisional GCSE entries in summer 2020, with a total of 35,360 entries. Mathematics: Numeracy had the fifth highest number of provisional entries with 24,645 entries. More learners have sat GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy than GCSE Mathematics in the November exam series for the past four years8, which may influence numbers entering each subject in the summer.

Figure 10: GCSE Mathematics year group comparisons

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual Figure 11: GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy year group comparisons

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 10 or below Year 11 Year 12 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

8 https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/publications/provisional-november-2019-gcse-and-level- 1level-2-certificates-entries-for-wales/

• For summer 2020, Year 11 learners make up 77.6% of entries for GCSE Mathematics and 87.2% for GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy. This compares to 79.2% and 86.2% in summer 2019 respectively. • Year 10 or below entries make up 2.7% and 8.2% of entries for GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy respectively in summer 2020. This has changed from 2.1% and 7.9% respectively in summer 2019. • 19.7% of entries for GCSE Mathematics were from Year 12 or above, and 4.6% for GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy. This compares to 18.7% and 5.9% in summer 2019.

Table 9: GCSE Mathematics and Mathematics: Numeracy entries by year group

Year 9 or Year 13 or Subject Year Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Total below above Mathematics 2020 20 930 27,450 3,155 3,805 35,360 2019 25 710 27,725 2,770 3,770 34,995 2018 10 610 23,495 2,770 3,085 29,970 2017 20 10,415 25,940 2,240 3,610 42,230 Mathematics - Numeracy 2020 15 2,005 21,500 525 600 24,645 2019 * 1,940 21,285 645 820 24,695 2018 * 1,765 19,565 715 950 23,000 2017 10 11,135 20,455 520 1,050 33,170 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

• Total entries for GCSE Mathematics increased in summer 2020 by 1.0% compared to summer 2019. GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy saw a small decrease of 0.2%. • After increases of 17.2% and 8.8% respectively last summer, GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Mathematics: Numeracy Year 11 entries remained stable in summer 2020. GCSE Mathematics saw increases of 31.1% for Year 10 and 14.0% for Year 12 entries. • Mathematics has a higher proportion of entries in Year 12 or above than Mathematics: Numeracy. This has been the case since 2017.

AS LEVEL ENTRIES Figure 12: AS level total entries by year group

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 11 or below Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

• There were 42,445 AS level entries for summer 2020 in Wales, 1.9% more than for summer 2019 (41,645 entries). • Summer 2015 to summer 2019 was a period of consistent annual decrease in the number of AS level entries in Wales, down from 57,030 entries in summer 2015.9 • Year 12 had the largest number of entries, with 32,985 entries in summer 2020 accounting for 77.7% of all entries. • A 3.5% increase in the number of year 12 entries in summer 2020 was offset by fewer entries in each of the Year 11 or below, Year 13 and Year 14 or above groups compared to summer 2019. • There are several factors that can play a role in year on year changes in entries (see external influences).

9 Ofqual (2017) Summer 2017 exam entries: GCSEs, level 1 / 2 certificates, AS and A levels in England. [online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/summer-2017-exam-entries-gcses- level-1-2-certificates-as-and-a-levels-in-england

REFORMED AS LEVEL

40,760 entries (96.0%) of the total summer 2020 entries were for approved qualifications. These only include qualifications provided by WJEC, who are the only awarding body offering approved AS levels. Therefore, this does not include entries for AS levels that were reformed for use primarily in England provided by other awarding bodies (see qualification reforms).

The remainder of entries for summer 2020 would be for legacy qualifications and England reformed qualifications.

PHASE 1 REFORM Approved phase 1 AS levels will be awarded for the fifth time this summer and account for 60.8% of total AS level entries for summer 2020. Table 10 illustrates the percentage change in entries for approved phase 1 AS level between summer 2020 and summer 2019. Total entries for these qualifications increased by 3.6% from 24,895 entries in summer 2019 to 25,800 entries in summer 2020.

Table 10: Approved phase 1 AS level entries by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Art and Design 2,100 2,085 0.6% Biology 4,005 3,645 9.9% Business 1,705 1,835 -7.0% Chemistry 3,425 3,195 7.1% Computer Science 585 645 -9.3% Economics 680 630 8.3% English Language 390 355 8.7% English Language and Literature 925 865 6.8% English Literature 1,970 1,690 16.8% History 2,165 2,550 -15.2% Physics 2,455 2,325 5.5% Psychology 3,270 2,885 13.3% Sociology 1,910 1,920 -0.5% Welsh First Language 220 260 -16.4%

Total 25,800 24,895 3.6% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

• English Literature had the largest proportional increase in entries at 16.8%, followed by Psychology at 13.3%. • Welsh First Language and History had the largest proportional decrease of entries at 16.4% and 15.2% respectively.

PHASE 2 REFORM

Table 10 shows the change in entries for approved phase 2 AS levels between summer 2020 and summer 2019. This summer is the fourth time that these AS levels will be awarded and entries for these qualifications account for 13.6% of total AS level entries for summer 2020.

Table 11: Approved phase 2 AS level entries by subject, summer 2020 and summer 2019

Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Drama and Theatre 645 575 12.0% French 360 380 -5.2% Geography 1,555 1,560 -0.1% German 90 85 7.1% Music 390 390 -0.8% Physical Education 855 835 2.4% Religious Studies 1,170 1,495 -21.6% Spanish 235 185 27.2% Welsh Second Language 470 350 34.0%

Total 5,775 5,855 -1.4% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

• Total entries decreased by 1.4% from 5,855 in summer 2019 to 5,775 entries in summer 2020. • The overall decrease was mainly driven by the 21.6% reduction in Religious Studies entries. • Spanish and Welsh Second Language saw large proportional increases of 27.2% and 34.0% respectively.

PHASE 3 REFORM Approved phase 3 AS levels will be awarded for the third time this summer. These qualifications accounted for 21.6% of total AS level entries for summer 2020.

Table 12: Approved phase 3 AS level entries by subject, summer 2020 and summer 201910

Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Design and Technology 860 775 10.8% Further Mathematics 640 460 38.5% Government and Politics 455 415 9.9% ICT 635 875 -27.6% Law 990 1,025 -3.4% Mathematics 4,665 4,640 0.6% Media Studies 945 950 -0.8%

Total 9,185 9,140 0.5% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 12 shows the change in entries for approved phase 3 AS levels between summer 2020 and summer 2019.

• Total entries increased by 0.5% from 9,140 in summer 2019 to 9,185 entries in summer 2020. • Changes at the subject level ranged from a decrease of 27.6% for ICT to an increase of 38.5% in Further Mathematics. • Mathematics makes up 50.8% of approved phase 3 AS level entries, which is unchanged from last summer.

10 ICT has been included as a reformed qualification in this release in line with JCQ classification

Table 13: AS level total entries (legacy and all phases) by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage AS Subject 2020 2019 Change Art & Design subjects 2,100 2,090 0.6% Biology 4,050 3,695 9.7% Business Studies 1,710 1,835 -6.8% Chemistry 3,485 3,275 6.4% Classical subjects 45 55 -18.5% Computing 590 650 -9.3% Design and Technology 860 775 10.6% Table 13 compares Drama 645 575 12.0% total AS summer Economics 715 675 6.4% entries for 2020 and English Language 390 360 7.8% English Language & Literature 925 865 6.8% 2019 by subject. English Literature 1,980 1,705 16.1% These figures include French 365 385 -4.4% Geography 1,570 1,570 0.0% legacy AS, approved German 95 85 10.6% AS for Wales and Health & Social Care 755 765 -1.0% reformed AS for History 2,165 2,565 -15.6% ICT 790 880 -10.5% England. Law 990 1,025 -3.4% Mathematics 4,725 4,730 -0.2% 19 subjects saw an Mathematics (Further) 645 470 37.8% increased entry in Media / Film / TV Studies 1,075 1,090 -1.2% Music 405 415 -3.1% summer 2020, 17 Performing / Expressive Arts * 0 - saw a decrease while Physical Education 860 835 2.6% Geography was the Physics 2,515 2,385 5.4% Political Studies 465 425 8.4% lone subject to Psychology 3,280 2,895 13.3% remain unchanged Religious Studies 1,175 1,500 -21.7% Sociology 1,910 1,925 -0.8% across the two years. Spanish 240 185 27.3% Travel & Tourism 0 * -100.0% Welsh First Language 220 260 -16.4% Welsh Second Language 470 350 34.0% Other Modern Languages 30 110 -74.8% Other Sciences 135 175 -23.7% All other subjects 80 60 37.9% Total Entries 42,445 41,645 1.9%

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

A LEVEL ENTRIES

Figure 13: A level total entries by year group

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year 11 or below Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 or above

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

• There were 31,095 A level entries for summer 2020, 4.5% fewer than in summer 2019 (32,580 entries). • The number of A level entries has seen a consistent year-on-year decrease since summer 2015, when Ofqual reported 38,480 entries in Wales11. • Year 13 entries, which account for 86.6% of total A level entries in summer 2020, decreased by 4.4% this summer (26,930 entries) compared to summer 2019 (28,165 entries). • All other year groups also saw a decrease compared to summer 2019. • There are several factors that can contribute towards these changes in entries (see external influences). This includes a decrease in AS entries of 8.0% between summer 2018 and summer 2019 and a 3.8% decrease in the number of 18-year olds in Wales in 2020 compared with 2019 (see Table 1).

11 Ofqual (2017) Summer 2017 exam entries: GCSEs, level 1 / 2 certificates, AS and A levels in England. [online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/summer-2017-exam-entries-gcses- level-1-2-certificates-as-and-a-levels-in-england

REFORMED A LEVEL ENTRIES 27,735 entries (89.2%) of the total summer 2020 entries were for approved qualifications. These only include qualifications provided by WJEC, who are the only awarding body offering approved A levels. Therefore, this does not include entries for A levels that were reformed for use primarily in England provided by other awarding bodies (see qualification reforms). The remainder of entries for summer 2020 will make up legacy qualifications and England reformed qualifications. All three phases of approved A levels are being awarded this summer.

PHASE 1 REFORM This summer is the fourth time these A levels will be awarded. Entries into these subjects account for 56.0% of total A level entries for summer 2020. Table 14: Approved phase 1 A level entries by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Art and Design 1,620 1,780 -8.9% Biology 2,540 2,480 2.5% Business 1,185 1,180 0.3% Chemistry 2,035 2,155 -5.5% Computer Science 380 335 13.4% Economics 460 460 0.0% English Language 255 280 -9.9% English Language and Literature 625 635 -1.9% English Literature 1,395 1,610 -13.6% History 1,995 2,225 -10.4% Physics 1,515 1,495 1.5% Psychology 1,890 1,800 5.2% Sociology 1,265 1,250 1.0% Welsh First Language 260 280 -6.5%

Total 17,425 17,975 -3.1% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 14 shows the percentage change in entries for Wales approved phase 1 reformed A level entries between summer 2020 and summer 2019.

• Entries for phase 1 A levels decreased 3.1% from 17,975 last summer to 17,425 this summer. • Computer Science had the largest proportional increase in entries at 13.4%, followed by Psychology and Biology. • English Literature had the largest proportional decrease in entries at 13.6%, followed by History and Art and Design.

PHASE 2 REFORM These A levels will be awarded for the third time this summer. They accounted for 13.6% of total A level entries for summer 2020.

Table 15: Approved phase 2 A level entries by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage Subject 2020 2019 change Drama and Theatre 495 495 0.0% French 265 285 -6.3% Geography 1,110 1,265 -12.2% German 65 65 1.6% Music 285 305 -6.6% Physical Education 565 625 -9.0% Religious Studies 1,090 1,245 -12.5% Spanish 130 140 -9.9% Welsh Second Language 210 250 -15.7%

Total 4,215 4,670 -9.8% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 15 shows the percentage change in entries for these qualifications between summer 2020 and summer 2019.

• Total entries decreased 9.8% from 4,670 last summer to 4,215 this summer. • Modern Foreign Languages (French, German and Spanish) entries decreased by 30 (6.3%) • Welsh Second Language saw a decrease of 15.7%. • German was the only approved phase 2 A level subject to see a proportional increase of entries.

PHASE 3 REFORM These A levels will be awarded for the second time in summer 2020. The exception to this is Mathematics, which was first awarded in 2018 largely to 17-year-olds. This was so learners could sit the both AS and A level Mathematics in their first year of study (2018) and then progress to AS and A level Further Mathematics in their second year (2019). Table 16: Approved phase 3 A level entries by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage A level subject 2020 2019 change Design and Technology 545 590 -7.6% Further Mathematics 525 460 14.4% Government and Politics 300 340 -11.4% Law 595 600 -0.3% Mathematics 3,395 3,180 6.8% Media Studies 730 780 -6.6%

Total 6,095 5,950 2.4% Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 16 shows the percentage change in entries for these qualifications between summer 2020 and summer 2019.

• Total entries increase by 2.4% from 5,950 in summer 2019 to 6,095 in summer 2020. • This increase was driven by increases in entries for Mathematics (6.8%) and Further Mathematics (14.4%). The remaining approved phase 3 A level subjects saw decreases in summer 2020 entries compared to last summer. • Mathematics make up 55.7% of the entries in summer 2020, up slightly from 53.5% in summer 2019.

Table 17: A level total entries (legacy and all phases) by subject, summer 2020 compared to summer 2019

Percentage A level Subject 2020 2019 Change Art & Design subjects 1,680 1,855 -9.4% Biology 2,680 2,660 0.8%

Business Studies 1,230 1,235 -0.6% Chemistry 2,225 2,355 -5.6% Classical subjects 35 65 -49.2% Communication Studies 0 0 - Computing 410 400 2.5% Table 17 compares Critical Thinking 0 0 - total A level summer Design and Technology 570 620 -7.6% Drama 515 515 0.0% entries for 2020 and Economics 525 540 -2.2% 2019 by subject. Engineering 0 0 - These include legacy English Language 265 285 -7.7% English Language & Literature 625 640 -1.7% A level, approved A English Literature 1,480 1,695 -12.7% level and reformed A French 295 315 -6.3% General Studies 0 0 - level for England. Geography 1,165 1,345 -13.2% German 70 80 -11.3% Most A level subjects Health & Social Care 600 605 -0.8% – 30 in total - saw a History 2,085 2,335 -10.5% ICT 580 660 -12.1% decrease in entries in Law 600 615 -2.6% summer 2020 Leisure 0 0 - compared to last Mathematics 3,645 3,630 0.5% Mathematics (Further) 610 550 10.3% year. Six subjects saw Media / Film / TV Studies 900 930 -3.2% increased entry while Music 345 365 -5.7% Performing / Expressive Arts 15 20 -15.8% seven saw no change. Physical Education 580 650 -10.9% Physics 1,660 1,615 2.7% Political Studies 315 365 -13.2% Psychology 1,960 1,865 5.3% Religious Studies 1,120 1,290 -13.3% Science 0 0 - Sociology 1,265 1,275 -0.8% Spanish 150 175 -14.7% Travel & Tourism 0 5 -100.0% Welsh First Language 260 280 -6.5% Welsh Second Language 210 250 -15.7% Other Modern Languages 210 245 -15.4% Other sciences 165 190 -14.7% All other subjects 50 60 -16.7% Total Entries 31,095 32,580 -4.5%

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

LEVEL 1/LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE ENTRIES Table 18: Level 1/Level 2 Entries by year group and subject, summer 2017 to summer 202012

Year 9 or Year 13 or Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Total below above 2020 Total entries 25 35 3,080 35 10 3,190 Additional Maths * 30 3,030 35 10 3,110 Other Subjects 25 5 50 * 0 80 2019 Total entries 30 30 3,020 70 20 3,170 Additional Maths * 15 2,840 25 * 2,880 Other Subjects 30 15 180 45 20 290 2018 Total entries 25 110 3,355 85 15 3,590 Additional Maths 15 95 3,065 30 0 3,205 Other Subjects 10 15 290 55 15 385 2017 Total entries 20 60 3,225 80 10 3,395 Additional Maths 5 20 2,525 20 * 2,575 Other Subjects 15 40 700 65 5 820

Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, 2018 and later - Qualifications Wales; 2017 - Ofqual

Table 18 shows there were 3,190 entries for Level 1/2 qualifications in 2020, 0.7% higher than the number of entries in summer 2019 (3,170 entries). The overall increase is driven by a 7.9% increase in Additional Maths entries and offset by a 72.0% reduction for Other Subjects – the latter is mainly due to Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 certificates no longer being regulated by Qualifications Wales. Additional Maths entries now make up 97.5% of total Level 1/2 entries in 2020, compared to 90.9% in 2019.

12 Other subjects include Art and Design Subjects, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Classical subjects, English, French, Geography, German, History, ICT, Music, Other Modern Languages, Physics and Spanish.

WELSH BACCALAUREATE SKILLS CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE Table 19: Skills Challenge Certificate entries by year group, summer 2018 to summer 2020

Number of Candidates Summer 2020 Number of Candidates Summer 2019 Number of Candidates Summer 2018 Year 11 or Year 13 or Year 11 or Year 13 or Year 11 or Year 13 or Year 12 Total Year 12 Total Year 12 Total below above below above below above Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate 0 * 11,730 11,735 0 * 11,995 11,995 0 10 13,220 13,230 Foundation (post 16) Skills Challenge Certificate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 10 65 National (post 16) Skills Challenge Certificate 0 5 10 15 0 35 20 55 0 85 40 125 National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate 27,230 130 * 27,360 27,890 135 5 28,030 27,630 155 * 27,790 Total 27,230 140 11,745 39,110 27,890 170 12,020 40,080 27,630 300 13,275 41,205 Source: Awarding bodies - Entries by Year Group collection, Qualifications Wales

Table 19 shows the number of entries for the Skills Challenge Certificate by year group for summer 2018 through summer 2020.

• Total Skills Challenge Certificate entries decreased by 970 (2.4%) in summer 2020 compared to summer 2019. • There were 27,360 entries for National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate (KS4) in summer 2020, down 665 (2.4%) on last summer. These account for 70.0% of all Skills Challenge Certificate entries in summer 2020. • The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate saw 11,735 entries, down 265 (2.2%).

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Awarding Body An organisation that develops qualifications, specifies and monitors assessments and issues awards to learners, formally recognising the learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and/or competences), following an assessment and validation procedure. In other parts of the UK these are known as Awarding Organisations or Exam Boards.

GCSEs General Certificates of Secondary Education are available in a wide range of subjects. GCSEs are the main Level 1 and Level 2 general qualifications at age 14-16 in Wales. They can be used as a basis for higher level study or training, or direct entry into employment.

A level General Certificate of Education Advanced Level, also known as a GCE A level. Qualifications taken, after GCSEs, in a range of subjects, usually taken at age 16-18 and typically a two-year course of study. They are used as a basis for admissions to higher education, further training or entry into employment.

Advanced Subsidiary (AS) A qualification that forms the first part of an A level qualification. It may be taken as a free-standing qualification. In Wales and Northern Ireland it contributes to the A level result. In England, AS qualifications cannot contribute to A levels.

Skills Challenge Certificate The qualification which forms the central part of the Welsh Baccalaureate (see below). Learners need to complete four assessments as part of the Skills Challenge Certificate: • An individual Project • Enterprise and Employability Challenge • Global Citizenship Challenge • Community Challenge

Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc) The Welsh Bacc is a composite qualification that includes a Skills Challenge Certificate; this assesses the skills that young people need for college, university, employment and life. Alongside the Skills Challenge Certificate, learners take a selection of GCSE, AS and

A level and vocational qualifications appropriate to their needs in order to be awarded the Welsh Bacc.

Cash - in Schools and colleges enter students who are completing a qualification and want to claim their final grade in that exam session.

Year 10 Students who are aged 15 by 31st August of the relevant academic year.

Year 11 Students who are aged 16 by 31st August of the relevant academic year.

Year 12 Students who are aged 17 by 31st August of the relevant academic year.

Year 13 Students who are aged 18 by 31st August of the relevant academic year.

Centre A body undertaking the delivery of an assessment (and potentially other activities) to learners on behalf of an awarding body. Centres are typically educational institutions, training providers, or employers.

Linear Linear GCSEs are designed so that all assessment in a subject is completed at the end of the programme of learning. This means that every time a pupil is entered by their school or college to be awarded a grade, they need to sit all assessment components for the qualification (examinations, and for some subjects, other forms of controlled assessment). Unitised Unitised qualifications are designed so that assessment units can be taken by pupils at different points during the course, with a final grade ‘cashed-in’ at the end of the programme of learning once a pupil has completed all units. For GCSE, learners must complete a minimum amount of the assessment for a qualification in the series where they are cashing in.

BACKGROUND NOTES

On 21 November 2017 the National Assembly for Wales approved the Official Statistics (Wales) Order 201713 which named Qualifications Wales as one of the bodies that are in scope of the Statistics and Registration Services Act 200714. Qualifications Wales operates in compliance with the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Official Statistics15 and has published this statistical release as Official Statistics. Data Source The awarding bodies that provide AS, A level, GCSEs, the Skills Challenge Certificate and Level 1/Level 2 certificates have submitted information to Qualifications Wales about the number of entries for each qualification available in summer 2020. The entries are only for centres located in Wales, regardless of the type of centre. This release covers the number of entries broken down by subject and age of students in Wales based on school year groups (year 11 is the academic year where students become 16 years old).

Limitations of data There is potential error in the information provided by awarding bodies. Therefore, Qualifications Wales cannot guarantee that the information received is correct. Qualifications Wales compares the data over time and checks for systematic issues. Quality assurance procedures are carried out to ensure the accuracy of the data and challenge or question it, where necessary. Qualifications Wales continuously manages this process by:

• Ensuring that data providers are clear about what is required of them and are fully consulted during the initial design and any subsequent change phases; • Reminding all providers (if appropriate) that, as a condition of them being regulated, all data must be completely accurate; • Being alert to unexpected changes in the data submitted by comparing individual returns over time from the same provider; • Actively challenging any unexpected results with the data providers.

The publication may be deferred if the statistics are not considered fit for purpose.

13 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2017/1142/pdfs/wsi_20171142_mi.pdf 14 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/18/contents 15 https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/code-of-practice/

Data has been collected at an appropriate point when it is reasonably complete, this was 4 May 2020 for the summer 2020 series data in this release. However, schools can continue to make late entries right up to the data of the exam. For this reason, the title of this release refers to provisional entries.

Qualification reform In parallel to the reforms in Wales, new GCSEs, AS and A levels were also introduced for England. GCSE, AS and A level qualifications reformed for Wales and for England remain comparable, they are the same size and are accessible to the same range of learners. There are, however, some key design differences between them. GCSE qualifications reformed for Wales continue to be graded A*-G, whereas GCSEs reformed for England have moved to a 9-1 grading system. Results from AS qualifications reformed for Wales contribute 40% towards an A level grade. Results for AS qualifications no longer count towards the new A levels designed for England.

In subjects where GCSEs, AS and A levels have been reformed for Wales, qualifications designed for England are not available for use in Wales on publicly funded courses. There are two main scenarios in which GCSEs, AS and A levels reformed for England could be taken by learners in Wales:

• GCSEs, AS and A levels offered in subjects that have not been reformed specifically for Wales are designated as eligible for use on publicly funded learning programmes. • Where provision is not publicly funded, such as in independent schools, centres may choose to enter learners for qualifications that have been reformed for England even though there is a Welsh reformed equivalent qualification.

Comparisons From 2017/18 awarding bodies submitted general qualifications data to Qualifications Wales rather than Ofqual. Comparisons to historical Ofqual data should be interpreted with caution.

Geographical coverage This release presents data on the number of entries for A Levels, AS Levels, GCSEs, the Skills Challenge Certificate and Level 1/Level 2 certificates for the summer 2020 exam series for centres located in Wales. This release does not include A levels, AS levels,

GCSEs, the Skills Challenge Certificate and Level1/Level 2 certificates taken outside of Wales.

Revisions Once published, data on the number of entries is not usually subject to revision, although subsequent releases may be revised to insert late data or correct an error.

Completeness of the data Awarding bodies send Qualifications Wales entry data for all regulated qualifications classified as AS, A level, GCSE, the Skills Challenge Certificate or Level 1/Level 2 certificates. Qualifications Wales contacts any awarding body that does not return a complete set of data within the collection period, to make sure the data is as complete as possible.

Rounding and confidentiality To protect confidentiality, and in accordance with Qualifications Wales’s interim statistical outputs policy, all entry figures are rounded. In the commentary and tables, they are rounded to the nearest 5. Figures fewer than 5 but greater than 0 are replaced with a *. This is to ensure that data does not reveal an individual candidate. All percentages within the commentary are based on actual figures. Figures have been rounded independently and therefore may not sum to the total.

Users of these statistics

These statistics are likely to be of interest to Qualifications Wales, Ofqual, awarding bodies, and the Welsh Government. We welcome feedback from users, so expect to gain a better understanding of who our users are over time. Qualifications Wales uses these statistics to inform understanding of entry patterns.

Related statistics and publications A number of statistical releases relate to this one, including:

• Our Provisional November GCSE and Level 1/Level 2 Certificates Entries for Wales 2019 release16. • The annual ’Schools’ census results’ release17, published by Welsh Government.

16 https://qualificationswales.org/english/publications/provisional-november-2019-gcse-and-level-1level- 2-certificates-entries-for-wales/ 17 https://gov.wales/schools-census-results-headline-data-january-2020

• Entries for GCSE, AS and A level in England18.

Useful information You can find information about future publications on the Welsh Government website19 and our website20. The QiW register21 gives information on approved and designated qualifications which are eligible for public funding in Wales.

Next update May 2021 (provisional).

User feedback We welcome any feedback on any aspect of these statistics which can be provided by email to [email protected]

18 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-entries-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2019- exam-series 19 https://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/upcoming 20 https://qualificationswales.org/english/our-work/research-and-statistics/upcoming-publications/ 21 https://www.qiw.wales/?lang=en