Latest news with #StateSchools
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Subjects, schools and gender – what the latest A-level data shows
Subjects, schools and gender – what the latest A-level data shows Business studies and physics are booming, while entries for French and German have sunk to a record low, this year's A-level results show. There is also evidence that the gap in performance between private and state schools is narrowing, but there remains a sharp gender imbalance among key subjects. Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the long-term trends in the latest exam data. – Most popular subjects: What's up and what's down? While there was no change this year in the top choices for A-levels, with maths, psychology, biology and chemistry once again occupying the first four spots, there were big changes further down the chart. Business studies appears in the top five for the first time, up from sixth place in 2024. The subject has gained steadily in popularity in recent years, rising from 13th in the rankings in 2015 to 10th in 2020, eighth in 2022, then climbing one place in each successive year. Last year's fifth most popular subject, history, has dropped to seventh place, while physics has leaped from ninth to sixth. It is the first time since at least 2000 – the earliest available archive data – that no arts or humanities subjects have appeared in the top five. As in previous years, the top subject choices vary by gender. For boys, the most popular A-levels this year were maths, physics, economics, chemistry and business studies; for girls, it was psychology, biology, maths, chemistry and sociology. – French resumes its decline The number of French A-level entries has resumed its long-term decline, more than reversing last year's unexpected rise and suggesting the long-term future of the subject is grim. There were 6,858 entries in 2025, down from 7,544 in 2024 and the lowest figure since current data began. Entries have fallen 34% in the past 10 years and 53% in the last two decades. German has also resumed its descent after a small increase in 2024, with just 2,224 entries this year, down year on year from 2,431 and another new low. Entries for German have dropped 45% in the past decade and 62% since 2005. The one piece of positive news for the 'big three' foreign languages is a slight rise in entries for Spanish, with 8,325 in 2025, up from 8,238 in 2024, though below the recent peak of 9,139 in 2021. Among the smaller modern languages, the most popular were Chinese (1,624 entries, down from 1,643 in 2024) and Russian (1,118, up from 1,044). – State v private gap narrows The gap between the proportion of A-level entries at private schools receiving top grades and those at state schools has narrowed slightly. Some 48.5% of entries at independent schools – including city training colleges – were awarded A or A* this year, compared with 25.4% of entries at state-funded schools – a gap of 23.1 percentage points. This is down from 23.9 points last year, when the figures were 48.6% for independent schools and 24.7% for state schools. But it is larger than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when the gap stood at 21.3 points (43.9% for independent schools, 22.6% for state schools). During the pandemic the gap widened considerably, peaking at 30.0 points in 2021. – Gender imbalance persists Computing recorded the biggest gender imbalance towards males for the sixth year in a row, with boys making up 81% of entries and girls 19% – a slight narrowing on last year, when the figures were 83% and 17%. Physics (76% boys, 24% girls), accounting (73% and 27%) and further maths (also 73% and 27%) were the other subjects skewed most heavily towards males. The biggest imbalance towards females was in the subject of health and social care, as has been the case each year since 2021. In the double award for this subject, girls made up 96% of entries and boys just 4%, while in the single award the figures were 89% and 11%. Performing/expressive arts (92% girls, 8% boys) and English literature (80% girls, 20% boys) were other subjects with predominantly female entries.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Subjects, schools and gender – what the latest A-level data shows
Business studies and physics are booming, while entries for French and German have sunk to a record low, this year's A-level results show. There is also evidence that the gap in performance between private and state schools is narrowing, but there remains a sharp gender imbalance among key subjects. Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the long-term trends in the latest exam data. – Most popular subjects: What's up and what's down? While there was no change this year in the top choices for A-levels, with maths, psychology, biology and chemistry once again occupying the first four spots, there were big changes further down the chart. Business studies appears in the top five for the first time, up from sixth place in 2024. The subject has gained steadily in popularity in recent years, rising from 13th in the rankings in 2015 to 10th in 2020, eighth in 2022, then climbing one place in each successive year. Last year's fifth most popular subject, history, has dropped to seventh place, while physics has leaped from ninth to sixth. It is the first time since at least 2000 – the earliest available archive data – that no arts or humanities subjects have appeared in the top five. As in previous years, the top subject choices vary by gender. For boys, the most popular A-levels this year were maths, physics, economics, chemistry and business studies; for girls, it was psychology, biology, maths, chemistry and sociology. – French resumes its decline The number of French A-level entries has resumed its long-term decline, more than reversing last year's unexpected rise and suggesting the long-term future of the subject is grim. There were 6,858 entries in 2025, down from 7,544 in 2024 and the lowest figure since current data began. Entries have fallen 34% in the past 10 years and 53% in the last two decades. German has also resumed its descent after a small increase in 2024, with just 2,224 entries this year, down year on year from 2,431 and another new low. Entries for German have dropped 45% in the past decade and 62% since 2005. The one piece of positive news for the 'big three' foreign languages is a slight rise in entries for Spanish, with 8,325 in 2025, up from 8,238 in 2024, though below the recent peak of 9,139 in 2021. Among the smaller modern languages, the most popular were Chinese (1,624 entries, down from 1,643 in 2024) and Russian (1,118, up from 1,044). – State v private gap narrows The gap between the proportion of A-level entries at private schools receiving top grades and those at state schools has narrowed slightly. Some 48.5% of entries at independent schools – including city training colleges – were awarded A or A* this year, compared with 25.4% of entries at state-funded schools – a gap of 23.1 percentage points. This is down from 23.9 points last year, when the figures were 48.6% for independent schools and 24.7% for state schools. But it is larger than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when the gap stood at 21.3 points (43.9% for independent schools, 22.6% for state schools). During the pandemic the gap widened considerably, peaking at 30.0 points in 2021. – Gender imbalance persists Computing recorded the biggest gender imbalance towards males for the sixth year in a row, with boys making up 81% of entries and girls 19% – a slight narrowing on last year, when the figures were 83% and 17%. Physics (76% boys, 24% girls), accounting (73% and 27%) and further maths (also 73% and 27%) were the other subjects skewed most heavily towards males. The biggest imbalance towards females was in the subject of health and social care, as has been the case each year since 2021. In the double award for this subject, girls made up 96% of entries and boys just 4%, while in the single award the figures were 89% and 11%. Performing/expressive arts (92% girls, 8% boys) and English literature (80% girls, 20% boys) were other subjects with predominantly female entries.
Wall Street Journal
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
China Steals Language and Home Life From Tibetan Kids as Young as 4
China has for at least two decades directed children in Tibet to state-run boarding schools at ever-younger ages, trying to gut Tibetan culture and blunt generations of opposition to Communist Party rule. It didn't work as well as Chinese leaders hoped.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey, education advocates request 6% ETF budget increase
Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey speaks during a budget presentation to lawmakers on Feb. 5, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Mackey advocated for an additional $627.78 million for K-12 schools in the Education Trust Fund FY26 budget. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Gov. Kay Ivey will request a $9.9 billion Education Trust Fund budget for 2026, a 6% increase over the current year. 'That would move us then into the FY26 direct ETF budget total: proposed appropriations total $9.9 billion,' said State Finance Director Bill Poole. 'That again sets a new high water mark for the state of Alabama.' Under the proposal, $6.7 billion (68%) would go to K-12 schools, with $2.6 billion going to the state's colleges and universities. $614 million will be allocated to other measures, Poole said. The Alabama Legislature gets final say on the budgets. Poole said Ivey wants a $2 million increase for the Department of Mental Health for school-based mental health programs. He said there is also room in the request for scholarships for dependents of law enforcement. 'There will have to be authorizing legislation from the Legislature that we need to consider in order to enact those funds,' he said. The requests did not include pay raises for public education employees. Within the K-12 allocations, Ivey wants $101 million to go to the CHOOSE Act, a voucher-like program allowing families to claim up to $7,000 for each qualifying student to be used for non-public education expenses, including private school tuition. The program is currently limited to households making 300% of the poverty level (about $79,950 for a family of three), students with special needs and dependents of active-duty military enrolled in priority schools. Income limits will be lifted beginning in the 2027-28 school year. Ivey said Tuesday in her State of the State address that there have been 18,000 applications in the first month of the application period. Speaking to legislators on Wednesday afternoon, State Superintendent Eric Mackey asked lawmakers for an additional $627.78 million for K-12 schools. In the 2025 budget, K-12 schools were allocated $5.98 billion. Mackey sought increases for a number of academic and service programs. $22.5 million for distance learning $14.5 million for Advanced Placement $95 million for the Alabama Numeracy Act $39.3 million for the Alabama Mathematics, Science and Technology Initiative $112.8 million for the Alabama Reading Initiative $36.8 million for reading coaches $52 million struggling readers – beyond grade 3 $20 million for English Learners $15.4 million for gifted students $13.5 million for Special Education Certified Behavioral Analysts $30 million for Special Education Pro-Schools $32.9 million Student assessments $7.7 million for a mental health service coordinator program $94.6 million for school nurses $99.3 million for transportation fleet renewals $485.8 million for transportation operations $52.9 million for school safety, security and climate $5 million for defibrillators in schools $2 million for Alabama Multi-Tiered System of Supports Mackey also spent time advocating for a cell phone ban in schools. Two pieces of legislation from both chambers aim to ban cell phone use through local school board actions. The state's Board of Education last year passed a resolution encouraging school districts to limit cell phone use in the classroom, though it did not require them to do so. Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, asked Mackey why he could not implement a ban from his position. 'I don't have authority, nor does the governor or the state board,' he said. 'I think that's what the governor talked about in speech last night. She wants the legislature to change that so it's not up to each local board anymore, because statewide rule.' Alabama Commission on Higher Education Director Jim Purcell requested $77.8 million additional funds from the FY25 ETF. Higher education was allocated $2.25 billion in the FY25 budget. $200,000 for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative $100,000 for Literacy and Numeracy acts implementations(orr confused garrett pissed), $650,000 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities consortium $250,000 for Alabama Special Education Rural Teacher Scholarship $1.5 million increase for state aid programs $1 million increase for STEM major teacher recruitment $200,000 increase for Network of Alabama Academic Libraries $2 million increase for (Re)engage Alabama grant program to move from the supplemental budget Senate Finance and Taxation Education Chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and House Ways and Means Education Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, were 'mildly offended' by the Literacy and Numeracy acts implementation request, which would allow the money to go directly to campuses, instead of the Department of Education 'Why do they need additional money? We give them boatloads of money every year,' Orr said. Alabama Community College Association Chancellor Jimmy Baker asked lawmakers for an additional $49.38 million. Community colleges were allocated $551 million in the 2025 budget. Lawmakers were receptive to his request. 'Our work is about preparing for the future,' he said. 'It's not just Alabama community college students, but also the entire state of Alabama. That's what matters.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
