ATSCo welcomes increase in young ITers

The Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) has welcomed this year's increase in students taking IT-related examinations.

This year more than 180,000 students sat examinations in computing-related subjects. Exam boards have hailed this massive growth in numbers as 'a great success.'

Ann Swain, Chief Executive of ATSCo, said: "This is good news. It's so important to get young people interested in IT and if these results are anything to go by, the Government's plans to encourage youngsters to study these subjects is working."

More than 36,000 students took advanced-level exams in computing and IT, compared with 30,000 last year while nearly 38,000 sat the new AS-level examination. The number of students taking GCSE and GNVQ examinations has also risen sharply.

However, Miss Swain points out that if the skills shortages in the industry are to be met, more students will have to go on to study information technology at degree level.

She said: "It's all very well encouraging students to study for GCSE and A-level examinations but what we really need is more undergraduates opting for IT-related degrees. Most companies will require job candidates to have more than a GCSE or A-Level in IT."

According to UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), Computer Science is now the second most popular degree course after Business Studies.

Miss Swain added: "This is very encouraging and hopefully as these students move through the education system the number of undergraduates should increase even more."

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Richard Powell, UKTECH