A trend towards early academic specialisation in England and Wales has intensified, with a significant rise in students pursuing A-levels exclusively within a single subject-group. Data shows that the proportion of students taking A-levels from one subject-group rose from 18% in 2003 to 35% in 2021.
This narrowing of studies means that only 5% of the 2021 cohort combined subjects from STEM, social science, and humanities. This contrasts with educational systems in France, Germany, the US, and Scotland, where pupils typically study a broader curriculum until leaving school.
The shift has been linked to changes in education policy, including the scrapping of AS assessments following a decision by Michael Gove. Additionally, the competitive nature of university admissions may incentivise students to focus on their strongest subjects. Last year, the government also reduced funding for state schools offering the International Baccalaureate.