Changes in the choice of A level subjects
Government stats are suggesting that secondary school courses in maths, the sciences, history and geography are becoming less popular. Over 260 secondary schools in England did not enter any pupils for A-level geography in 2007 (15%), and while around 250 didn’t offer A level physics.
The figures also show that 11% of comprehensives did not enter any pupils for A-level chemistry, and 6% did not enter pupils for maths 7% for biology. 8% did not enter any pupils for A-level history.
On the other side of the coin most of the schools that did not enter pupils for history did have A-level candidates in one of the more modern social science and media subjects such as sociology, media, TV and film studies or communication studies.
One reason given for the change is that some subjects are “easier” than others at A level, although no evidence has been put forward, as far as I can see. Certainly I would say from personal experience that virtually all teenagers I have met and discussed sociology with find it infinitely harder than history to grasp.
Another reason may well be the specialist schools which not only channel students into their specialist subject area, but also into those around it. For example, it would be odd if a school specialising in business studies did not do a lot for A level media and communications students, as most businesses need a very strong awareness of contemporary developments in these fields to survive.