Maths top a-level but gender gap remains [Education]

THE NUMBER of students taking STEM subjects at A-level increased for the fifth year in a row, but a bumper year for engineering GCSEs may not save them from the chop. The overall pass rate for A-levels fell for the first time in more thatn 30 years but maths emerged as the most popular A-level among students this year, with 88.8816 candiatates, after English slipped down to second place. The number of students electing to study biology, chemistry and physics rose by 2 per cent, while those taking maths increased by 0.9 per cent and further maths by 1.5 per cent.