The variety of women selecting to review computing at A-level has grown once more this 12 months, alongside slight progress within the total variety of candidates taking the topic.
Within the UK, the variety of women learning A-level computing in 2026 elevated by 2.8%. This marks the seventh 12 months of progress in women selecting the topic, from 1,797 in 2020, to 2,031 in 2021, 2,352 in 2022, 2,765 in 2023, 3,556 in 2024, 3,679 in 2025 and now 3,782 in 2026.
Whereas the previous seven years have seen sluggish however regular progress within the variety of women selecting to take the topic, the variety of total candidates has fluctuated. In 2025, the whole variety of computing A-level candidates within the UK was down on the 12 months earlier than, however this 12 months, the quantity has grown from 19,796 in 2025 to twenty,009 in 2026.
However there are rising issues about abilities gaps throughout the UK, particularly as synthetic intelligence (AI) poses a brand new and fast-growing space of expertise that’s redefining the talents wanted for all times and the office. Many have claimed the present curriculum shouldn’t be match for function with regards to expertise schooling, and oldsters have even claimed youngsters aren’t studying to code as a part of computing lessons.
With regards to AI, nevertheless, Bron Gondwana, CEO of electronic mail supplier Fastmail, advises younger folks to develop abilities distinctive to them with out worrying what AI will convey.
“For younger folks beginning their careers, I’d focus much less on attempting to foretell which jobs AI would possibly change and extra on growing experience that makes you beneficial, regardless,” he stated.
“Whilst you have the vitality, grow to be actually good at one thing, then search for the intersection between totally different abilities or disciplines that no one else is combining. That’s the place innovation occurs and the place you’ll be hardest to switch. AI will proceed to alter how we work, however curiosity, adaptability and deep experience will at all times matter.”
For science, expertise, engineering and maths (STEM) topics total, there was a rise in curiosity from college students, with A-level candidates rising in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and additional maths this 12 months – a constructive in comparison with final 12 months’s sluggish progress in some topics and decline in others.
With regards to grade attainment, computing outcomes had been barely up year-on-year, and women as soon as once more outperformed boys, with 7.8% of feminine candidates reaching an A* in contrast with 6% of male candidates.
Ladies carried out higher than boys at each grade attainment stage: 73.1% of feminine college students achieved no less than a C grade, in contrast with 70.1% of male college students; 52.1% of feminine college students achieved no less than a B grade, whereas solely 48.1% of male college students achieved the identical; and 28.8% of feminine college students achieved no less than an A grade, in contrast with 24.7% of male college students.
Outcomes day could make it really feel as if there may be one right route into grownup life, however there isn’t. A-levels and college have been seen because the default alternative for a lot of younger folks over the previous couple of many years, however there are different paths to success Russell Attwood, Route 101
Total, 70.7% of scholars who took the computing examination achieved no less than a C grade, 48.9% achieved no less than a B grade, and barely greater than 1 / 4 achieved no less than an A, matching final 12 months’s grade attainment of higher-level grades.
Many specialists cautioned younger folks in opposition to worrying that their grades will have an effect on their future careers, declaring the various routes into tech careers and the necessity for employers to assist entry-level workers achieve particular abilities for roles.
Russell Attwood, CEO of expertise options supplier Route 101, stated: “Outcomes day could make it really feel as if there may be one right route into grownup life, however there isn’t. A-levels and college have been seen because the default alternative for a lot of younger folks over the previous couple of many years, however there are different paths to success. A level may be beneficial for some careers, however it isn’t a measure of drive or future potential.
“I left college at 16, dropped out of a BTEC enterprise course after three months and began constructing my profession by way of work, gross sales and on-the-job studying. That finally led me to construct and promote a expertise enterprise earlier than founding Route 101, now a multimillion-pound expertise firm using nearly 200 folks.
“College students at present shouldn’t decide their total future by a single set of grades. Continue to learn, work exhausting and be ready to take the following alternative. There are various routes ahead, and your first step doesn’t need to outline the place you end.”
