Exam results 2024: highlights for computing
Congratulations to all teachers and your students collecting their GCSE exam results today. Hopefully, all the hard work has paid off, and your students are celebrating their achievements.
As the 2024 GCSE and A level results are now available, there is much to celebrate in the world of computing and computer science.
Student numbers continue to grow
GCSE computer science is one of the fastest-growing subjects, with a 19.8% increase in student uptake since 2019 (2019: 80,027 to 2024: 95,841 entries) and a yearly increase of 5.8% since 2023 (2023: 90,558 to 2024: 95,841 entries).
The number of careers requiring technical skills and new technologies continues to rise, with computer programming expected to grow the most by 2035 in the UK. It is more important than ever to ensure that we have teachers equipped to support students in acquiring the knowledge needed to progress into fulfilling careers of the future.
Girls belong in computer science – increase in uptake from female students
It is widely reported that computer science suffers from gender inequality; this year the number of female entries of GCSE Computer Science has grown by 10.3%. The 2023 exam series saw 19,061 female entries, compared to 21,020 during the 2024 exam series.
With an ever-increasing desire to overcome the gender divide, our evidence informed I Belong programme aims to support you with understanding the barriers to girls' participation in computer science and make a plan to overcome them. Launched in 2023, the programme has already supported more than 550 schools to encourage more girls into computer science, and this year we are getting ready to expand the programme further, so keep an eye out for this exciting update!
Attainment has increased
Earlier this summer, Ofqual released a standards report acknowledging that GCSE computer science students had previously been awarded lower grades in comparison to other subjects such as Maths and physics. What we can see from the results is that both the number of students achieving top grades and grades 9-4 in the subject have increased this year.
The number of top grades awarded in GCSE Computer Science (grades 9-7) has increased by 15% since 2023, with male students increasing by 14.3% and female students by 16.7%.
The number of students achieving a grade 9-4 in the subject has also increased since 2023, overall, there was a 5.6% increase, with the number of males increasing by 5.1% and females 5.7%.
Steve Clarke, Programme Manager for the National Centre for Computing Education, said:
“The rising number of students choosing GCSE Computer Science, coupled with improved attainment, highlights a growing recognition of the subject's importance to the next generation. This trend not only reflects the increasing interest in technology but also the expanding opportunities for young people to excel in a digital world of the future.
“We are proud to see the gap between male and female students is narrowing, reassuring us that the aims of the I Belong programme is relevant to all educational institutions and further into industry. With increased gender equality and diversity of views, we are building a more exciting and sustainable future.”
How can we support you prepare for the new academic year?
As you prepare to return to school this September, the National Centre of Computing Education is on hand to support you through another exciting year.
Certification: from subject knowledge to pedagogy, our various certificates are here to support you improve your classroom practice.
Isaac Computer Science: the student-friendly platform is the perfect one-stop shop for GCSE and A level students. Covering content from across all English awarding bodies, the platform has a wealth of subject knowledge, multiple-choice questions, career videos and free to access student booster events. Sign up your students here.
Teach Computing Curriculum: we recently published several changes to the Teach Computing Curriculum; you can find out about the secondary changes here.
External sources:
A full list of the 2024 results for GCSE and A level is available on the Joint Council for Qualifications website.