The government has published figures showing the educational outcomes for 19-year-olds in England in 2010. The statistics show that those pupils who achieved good grades in English Baccalaureate subjects are more likely to go on to higher education.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) was introduced last year as a way of measuring performance in core subjects in English schools.  English Baccalaureate subjects are: English, maths, geography or history, the sciences and a language.

The statistics show that of those who achieved the EBacc, 80% were in full-time education at age 19 and 81% of them were in higher education.

Commenting on the  publication of statistics Schools Minister Nick Gibb said, “These statistics underline the importance of studying the core academic subjects that make up the English Baccalaureate – young people who achieve good grades in these subjects are more likely to go on to higher education. Publishing information on EBacc attainment will increase the opportunities for all young people to study these vital subjects.”

The figures, published by the Department for Education, show that 16% of 16-year-old learners achieved the EBacc in 2009/10.  22% of pupils were entered for subjects that covered all the component parts of the EBacc.

Of those who achieved the EBacc combination, 95 % went on to study A level or equivalent.  In 2002 around 75% of pupils attempted a modern foreign languages subject. In 2010, this figure was just over 43%. Science subjects fell by roughly 60,000 between 2006/07 and 2009/10.

The EBacc has been criticised by some educational spokespeople and political leaders for its marginalisation of vocational subjects and other ‘non-core subjects’ like Religious Education.

In a speech to think-tank Demos this week Andy Burnham, Shadow Education Secretary speaking about the EBacc said, “Latin is in and engineering is out. Why? It is the thinking of the 1950s. [Michael] Gove repeatedly talks about facts. Kings, queens, rivers, capital cities, history in chronological order. We are not saying these are not important, but all the evidence that our policy commission is coming up with suggests employers often want something else."

"Government is in danger of preparing young people for a world that no longer exists, by prioritising Latin over engineering and not listening to what employers want."

In a recent interview with The Independent newspaper, Michael Gove responded to such criticisms, “The purpose of the Baccalaureate is to define a core of subjects that act as gateways to wider learning. Almost every other developed country in the world, from Singapore to Holland, defines a very similar core.

“Its introduction as a league table measure has been widely supported by parents. We have kept this core small so students can achieve the benchmark while still having plenty of time for arts and other subjects.”