Extra women selected to take A-level computing this 12 months, regardless of fewer college students taking the topic general.
The variety of women who took A-level computing elevated by 3.5% this 12 months, in contrast with 2024, which means women accounted for 18.6% of computing entrants in 2025.
However the general variety of college students selecting to take computing A-levels declined by 2.8% this 12 months, after a variety of years of elevated curiosity within the topic – which means a drop within the variety of boys selecting the topic this 12 months.
Ian Thomas, chief working officer at IT service supplier Node4, mentioned: “It’s disappointing to see that the variety of college students learning computing has fallen by 2.8% this 12 months, particularly as 93% of mid-market organisations within the UK report they’re experiencing an IT expertise scarcity.”
There’s presently a expertise expertise hole within the UK, and plenty of have pointed a finger on the UK’s computing curriculum not absolutely creating the skillset youngsters want for a future profession in tech, in addition to failing to encourage youngsters, particularly women, to pursue careers in expertise.
Many dad and mom declare youngsters aren’t studying to code as a part of the computing curriculum, and youngsters usually misunderstand what’s concerned in a expertise profession – these may very well be simply among the causes younger individuals are shying away from the topic.
Thomas highlighted: “It’s important that instructional establishments nurture the curiosity younger folks naturally have for expertise. Immediately’s college students have grown up with expertise, with cell phones and computer systems available, and most of the time, they’re those referred to as upon to assist with IT points at residence.
“Nonetheless, this ardour isn’t changing into chosen profession paths. This means that there’s a disconnect between faculty curriculums and real-world technological developments, which is failing to have interaction the youthful generations.”
The variety of college students taking science, expertise, engineering and maths (STEM) topics has dropped basically this 12 months. Whereas maths, additional maths and physics all noticed a rise in candidates taking exams this 12 months, the will increase had been far smaller than we noticed final 12 months.
However the sixth-year enhance within the variety of women selecting to take computing at A-level is a optimistic development. The variety of women taking A-level computing within the UK has been rising annually, from 1,797 in 2020, to 2,031 in 2021, 2,352 in 2022, 2,765 in 2023, 3,556 in 2024, and now 3,679 in 2025.
I’m excited that younger ladies are seizing their future in higher numbers – particularly in areas like AI the place variety is significant to make sure selections and outcomes are good for everybody. We’d like this momentum to speed up Julia Adamson, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT additionally discovered the variety of ladies selecting computing at diploma degree elevated this 12 months.
Julia Adamson, BCS govt director for training and public profit, mentioned: “I’m excited that younger ladies are seizing their future in higher numbers – particularly in areas like AI [artificial intelligence] the place variety is significant to make sure selections and outcomes are good for everybody. We’d like this momentum to speed up.”
Grade attainment for A-level computing rose once more this 12 months, with women – as regular – attaining greater grades than boys. Some 7.1% of feminine candidates achieved A* within the topic, in contrast with 5.7% of male candidates.
Ladies carried out higher than boys at each grade attainment degree: 72.4% of feminine college students achieved at the least a C grade, in contrast with 69.7% of male college students; 52% of feminine college students achieved at the least a B grade, whereas solely 48.1% of male college students achieved at the least a B; and 28% of feminine college students achieved at the least an A grade, in contrast with 24.5% of male college students.
General, 70.2% of scholars who took the computing examination achieved at the least a C grade, 48.9% achieved at the least a B grade, and barely greater than 1 / 4 achieved at the least an A, displaying a rise in attainment of upper grades this 12 months in comparison with final 12 months.
Whereas these taking exams carried out effectively, many have proven concern over the slowing uptake of STEM topics this 12 months, in addition to the drop in A-level computing candidates, particularly within the wake of quickly creating expertise akin to AI, which requires an rising variety of expert and various staff to make sure this expertise serves everybody.
Heather Dawe, chief information scientist, UK, and head of accountable AI at digital transformation firm, UST, mentioned: “It’s promising to see the variety of younger ladies taking A-level computing enhance year-on-year, reflecting actual progress in closing the gender hole by way of inclusive training and early STEM programmes.
“Extra ladies in tech will carry a variety of views that drive innovation and lead to fairer, extra inclusive digital applied sciences for everybody. On the identical time, the general decline in candidates highlights the necessity for additional motion to make sure everybody can profit from and contribute to the digital age.
“Faculties, governments and business alike want to look at the newest information to determine the gaps and take the required steps to strengthen the UK’s tech ecosystem as an entire.”
