The number of students taking both English literature and language

AuthorityDepartment of Education, Sport and Culture
Date received2025-07-08
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2025-07-23
Case ID4782245

Summary

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided data on the number of students at Castle Rushen High School taking English Literature and Language GCSEs from 2023 to 2025, along with the percentage of students taking both subjects. The response also detailed the percentage of GCSE English lessons covered by supply staff or non-specialists over the same period.

Key Facts

  • 2025 exam figures are projected based on the current cohort.
  • The percentage of English Language students also taking English Literature increased from 44% in 2023 to 59% in 2024.
  • Cover supervisors are defined as Senior Education Support Officers who are not qualified teachers.
  • In the 2023-2024 academic year, 18.54% of lessons were taught by a trainee teacher as planned lessons rather than absence cover.
  • The total percentage of lessons requiring cover peaked at 19.63% in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Data Disclosed

  • 40
  • 91
  • 86
  • 145
  • 83
  • 149
  • 44%
  • 59%
  • 56%
  • 8.23%
  • 0.65%
  • 6.44%
  • 15.32%
  • 5.22%
  • 1.77%
  • 6.15%
  • 13.15%
  • 18.54%
  • 7.21%
  • 3.51%
  • 8.91%
  • 19.63%
  • 2023
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • 2022-2023
  • 2023-2024
  • 2024-2025
  • 2025-07-08
  • 2025-07-23
  • 4782245

Original Request

Please provide the number of students at Castle Rushen High School who have sat English Literature GCSE exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and English Language GCSE exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025. What percentage of students took both English language and English literature GCSE in 2023, 2024 and 2025. What percentage of GCSE English lessons were taught by a supply teacher and not a qualified teacher over the same periods

Data Tables (1)

Academic Year Total % of Lessons Covered Breakdown of Cover (as a % of ALL GCSE English lessons)
2022-2023 15.32% Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher: 8.23%
Taught by another English Teacher: 0.65%
Taught by a Cover Supervisor:* 6.44%
2023-2024 13.15% Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher: 5.22%
Taught by another English Teacher: 1.77%
Taught by a Cover Supervisor*: 6.15%
Taught by Trainee Teacher: 18.54% (planned lessons, not absence cover)
2024-2025 19.63% Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher: 7.21%
Taught by another English Teacher: 3.51%
Taught by a Cover Supervisor*: 8.91%

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4782245 23rd July 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 8 July 2025, which states:

"Please provide the number of students at Castle Rushen High School who have sat English Literature GCSE exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and English Language GCSE exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025. What percentage of students took both English language and English literature GCSE in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

What percentage of GCSE English lessons were taught by a supply teacher and not a qualified teacher over the same periods"

Our response to your request is as follows:

  1. Please provide the number of students at Castle Rushen High School who have sat English Literature and English Language GCSE exams in 2023, 2024 and

The number of students sitting GCSE English exams is as follows. Please note that figures for 2025 are projected based on the current cohort.

Academic Year English Literature English Language 2023 40 91 2024 86 145 2025 83 149

  1. What percentage of students took both English language and English literature
    GCSE in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The percentage of the English Language cohort who also sat for English Literature is:

• 2023: 44% • 2024: 59% • 2025: 56%

  1. What percentage of GCSE English lessons were taught by a supply teacher and not a qualified teacher over the same periods.

The following table shows the percentage of all timetabled GCSE English lessons that required cover due to the absence of the timetabled teacher, broken down by the type of staff who provided the cover:

Academic Year Total % of Lessons Covered Breakdown of Cover (as a % of ALL GCSE English lessons) Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher: 8.23% Taught by another English Teacher: 0.65% 2022-2023 15.32% Taught by a Cover Supervisor: 6.44% Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher: 5.22% Taught by another English Teacher: 1.77% Taught by a Cover Supervisor: 6.15% 2023-2024 13.15% Taught by Trainee Teacher: 18.54% (planned lessons, not absence cover) Taught by non-specialist Qualified Teacher:
7.21%
Taught by another English Teacher: 3.51% 2024-2025 19.63% Taught by a Cover Supervisor*: 8.91%

*Please note Cover Supervisors are Senior Education Support Officers employed to provide classroom supervision in the event of teacher absence. They are not qualified teachers.

Please quote the reference number 4782245 in any future communications.

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