Less than half of 16-year-olds meet key GCSE targets

MORE teenagers left school this year unable to read, write and add up, figures show today.

More than half of 16-year-olds failed to meet the Government's key target for scoring five C-grades in GCSEs including English and maths.

Despite billions spent on education over the past decade, one in eight pupils failed to achieve even five G grades in subjects including the three Rs.

Alarmingly low numbers attained a good GCSE in a foreign language and only half of pupils were well qualified in science.

In what was seen as fresh evidence of dumbing down, the overall C-grade pass rate reached a record high.

The first official breakdown of this year's exam results show 47.2 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades including in maths and English.

One in eight sixth-formers, or 11.9 per cent, achieved at least three As in their A-levels unchanged from 2007 figures. Exams expert Professor Alan Smithers, of the University of Buckingham, said the English and maths results were particularly disappointing, with 13 per cent of pupils failing to pass five GCSEs at any grade including in maths and English.

"Being able to handle words and numbers is essential to getting as much out of life as you can," he said. "It is very disappointing that more than one in eight of our youngsters can't even get to the very basic level of a pass."

He said the huge difference between those passing any subjects and those mastering the three Rs showed pupils were being entered for "soft" vocational courses. But schools minister Jim Knight said results in London were better than the rest of the country, with 49.8 per cent of teenagers educated in the capital's state schools achieving five A* to C grades. He said: "These are very positive results that build on the improvements of the last decade."

Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "The gap between fortunate and the forgotten remains stubbornly wide. Fewer than half of children leave school aged 16 with the basic level of qualifications."