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Part 5: 14-19. The new diplomas may not yet be as popular as ministers hoped, but the first schools to introduce them are optimistic about their future, reports Warwick Mansell

Science organisations and campaigners have given the reported increase in teenagers opting for maths, physics, chemistry and biology A – levels a cautious welcome.

New modern language A-levels starting next month are dispensing with compulsory literature study.

Nearly two thirds of entries given a C or better.

Starting this September, teachers will have to make “functional skills” part of the key stage 3 curriculum for English, maths and ICT.