Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many pupils or students in state-funded schools and colleges in England took (1) core mathematics, (2) mathematics, (3) further mathematics, and (4) statistics, qualifications post-16 in each academic year since 2015.

The information requested can be found in the attached spreadsheet and at the links below. Due to the amount of data requested, it is provided as an attachment rather than within the main body of the answer.

The numbers of entries by students aged 16 to 18 in England for A level pure mathematics, mathematics, further mathematics and statistics from the 2015/16 to 2023/24 academic years are published by the department in the ‘A level and other 16 to 18 results’ statistical release is attached and can be found at the following links:

• 2019/20 to 2023/24: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/b657f845-0723-4060-7981-08dd3ba46a29.
• 2018/19: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26d67ded915d1f26a741fa/2019_revised_National_tables.xlsx. (Table 2a)
• 2017/18: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c4887c2ed915d38b21c50d3/2018_revised_national_tables.xlsx. (Table 2a)
• 2016/17: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82bb13e5274a2e8ab590e5/SFR03_2018_National_Tables.xlsx. (Table 2a)
• 2015/16: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f27d540f0b6230268dc62/SFR05_2017_National_tables_1_to_8.xlsm. (Table 2a)

Data relating to Core Mathematics have been published on the Compare School and College Performance website since 2021/22 is attached and can be accessed at the following links:

• 2022/23: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/download-data?currentstep=datatypes&regiontype=all&la=0&downloadYear=2022-2023&datatypes=ks5underlying. (see “Qualification” column in “National data” tab)
• 2021/22: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/download-data?currentstep=datatypes&regiontype=all&la=0&downloadYear=2021-2022&datatypes=ks5underlying. (see “Qualification” column in “National data” tab)

Core Mathematics qualifications were introduced in 2014 to provide students who achieved a grade 9-4 in mathematics at GCSE, but are not taking AS or A level mathematics, with the opportunity to continue the subject within 16-19 study. The qualifications focus on the use and application of mathematics and statistics in real life scenarios and aims to prepare students for the mathematical demands of university study.