A-Level Figures Hint at Physics Recovery?

This week, many students in the UK had anxiously waited for their A-Level results, which finally have been released. After all the bad news regarding the state of physics education and students in the UK, the Institute of Physics is reporting that for the first time in 20 years, the number of students taking A-Level physics increased by just a sliver.

Overall, the number of candidates for A-level physics has risen a sliver: just 0.35 per cent from last year. The number of girls taking the subject rose by 2.5 per cent. AS-levels in the subject have done better, with rises of 3.2 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively.

Dr Robert Kirby-Harris, chief executive of the IoP, said the numbers are very encouraging and suggest that the message is beginning to get through.

They are not out of the woods yet because the total number is still rather low. Let's see if the trend continues next year.

Zz.