The trend of more girls choosing to study computing at GCSE level is on the rise, with 2024 marking the third consecutive year of growth. This year, 21,020 female students in the UK took the GCSE computing exam, up from 19,061 in 2023. However, with 74,821 male students also taking the exam, girls are still significantly outnumbered.
Mairead O’Connor, practice operations director at Node4, expressed positivity about the increasing number of girls studying computing and engineering at GCSE level, but noted that the overall pool of female students remains small. Stereotypes of computing and engineering as male-dominated fields can deter girls from pursuing these subjects. O’Connor highlighted several reasons why girls may not choose computing, including a lack of understanding of potential career paths, limited role models, and budget constraints in some schools.
Despite the challenges, the overall number of students studying GCSE computing has increased from 90,558 in 2023 to 95,841 in 2024. Performance in the subject has also improved, with 28.3% of students achieving at least an A/7 grade. Girls, in particular, have achieved higher grades compared to boys, with 35% of girls achieving an A/7 grade compared to 26.4% of boys.
Rachel Phillips, UK and Ireland vice-president at Okta, reminded students that GCSE subjects and grades do not necessarily dictate their future careers. She shared her own experience of pursuing engineering after taking an access course post A-levels, emphasizing that career paths can vary and don’t always require a specific set of qualifications.
Though the journey towards gender equality in tech fields may still have obstacles, the increasing number of girls taking computing at A-level in the UK offers hope for a more diverse and inclusive tech industry in the future.