The overall GCSE pass rate for Wales in 2012 has remained at 98.7% – equalling last year’s results.
GCSE results for students in Wales show:
- Overall pass rate remains at 98.7%.
- Passes at grades A* to C was 65.4% – down from 66.5% in 2011
- Proportion of A* and A grades was 19.2% – slightly down from 2011’s 19.5%
- Proportion of A* grades was 6.5% – again down slightly from 6.6% in 2011
Leighton Andrews, Welsh Minister for Education and Skills, said: “Students across Wales, like those in Cynffig who I am visiting today, deserve our congratulations as they take this significant step on their learning journey.
“Our students’ performance in GCSEs shows the overall pass rate remains at 98.7 per cent, with passes at A*-C at 65.4 per cent which is encouraging.”
The Welsh Baccalaureate, Intermediate and Foundation Diplomas have been available to students aged between 14 and 19 since 2006 and are now widely available in both Key Stage 4 and in post-16 learning.
Today’s results show that:
At Intermediate level:
- Almost 10,000 (9,940) learners completed the Welsh Baccalaureate programme.
- 8,119 achieved the Core certificate.
- 7,210 achieved both the Core certificate and the Options requirement and have been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma.
Foundation level:
- Over 3,500 (3,521) learners completed the Welsh Baccalaureate programme.
- 2,515 achieved the Core certificate.
- 2,236 achieved both the Core certificate and the Options requirement and have been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma.
The Minister added: “More students than ever have earned a Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification in addition to their other achievements, it continues to establish itself as a key feature of 14-19 learning in Wales and is a valued qualification.”
Meanwhile, nearly 82% of small businesses in Wales have said they do not think school leavers have adequate numeracy and literacy skills, according to a survey by The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Basic numeracy and literacy skills were flagged up as falling below the expected standard in the survey. Respondents in Wales stated that improving basic literacy and numeracy and placing a greater emphasis on employability skills should be a priority in schools.
Janet Jones, the FSB’s Welsh Policy Unit Chair, said: “Businesses are more than willing to invest time and money training staff in job-related skills, but expect them to come with at least the basics.
“Clearly, it is concerning to see that businesses have highlighted numeracy, literacy and core workplace skills, such as communication, as major problems.
“Whilst it’s important to recognise that there are many high achieving young people in Wales, it’s clear that somewhere along the line there is a disconnect in terms of matching up the requirements of employers and the skills of young people.”
Mrs Jones added that the Federation welcomed the Welsh Government’s review of qualifications in Wales but said that decision-makers must ensure that they engage with employers in the development of any changes, something she said has been “lacking”.
She continued: “Ultimately, Wales needs a qualifications system that’s fit-for-purpose, that’s easy to understand and that meets the real demand of employers in Wales.”