Secondary and post-16 education
Introduction
This section of the SHAPE Observatory brings together a range of interactive dashboards and reports that explore trends in the most commonly taken qualifications by young people in the UK – GCSEs, A levels, National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers – offering valuable insights into subject uptake, demographic patterns and discipline-specific developments.
About the SHAPE Observatory
Designed for policymakers, higher education, research and business sector leaders, education professionals, subject specialists, and academics, the SHAPE Observatory provides evidence and insights into the health of SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy) disciplines.
By highlighting trends and challenges, it helps inform policy, strengthen decision-making and demonstrate how the SHAPE disciplines nurture valuable skills, sustain major growth sectors in the UK economy and help us better understand the world we live in.
SHAPE indicators
School indicators dashboard
An interactive overview of the trends in uptake of GCSEs, A levels, National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.
Subject choice trends
Subject choice trends in post-16 education in England
Commissioned work undertaken by the National Federation for Educational Research on the data for changing subject choices for post-16 since 2003.
Studying SHAPE
Studying SHAPE: 2022
This data-driven report accompanied the first ever SHAPE indicators to help understand what students were studying.
