Commenting on the recent A-level results, Tim Thomas Make UK director of labour market and skills policy said:
“Importantly for manufacturers, even under this year’s difficult circumstances, STEM subjects overall saw an increase in A*/A grades when compared to 2019 which is encouraging for manufacturers who desperately need digital and tech skills to continue to compete on the global stage.
Maths students saw an increase to all grades across the board, which will be welcome news but STEM entries in Biology, Chemistry and Physics collectively fell by 4.9% since 2019, with girls only making up a quarter of Physics entries. There is clearly more to do to support STEM uptake in schools with employers having a major part to play in this push.
Regional grade discrepancies need to be dealt with swiftly and fairly to ensure those planning to go to university, HE or employment are not adversely impacted in the longer term. Government must make sure that all appeals and re-sits are fully supported and treated fairly across the board.”