I've spent the afternoon digging around in the statistical information available on the internet that relates to the biology exams this year. I set off in search of the A* grade. According to the stats, 8% of entrants received an A* grade, but comparing the statistics with the "league tables" would indicate that the elusive A* lurks within the public schools rather than across the country. I've yet to hear of an A* within the local community. In fact, the jungle drums in Hertfordshire tell of poor biology results in general, many students not achieving their predicted grades and losing out on their university places.

According to one set of statistics I've found, there were 57,854 entries this year at A2 and 83,408 entries at AS. I would like to find the total number of entries for AS in 2009. Making an assumption that the number of starters in year 12 who chose biology is roughly equal year on year, the difference in the number of candidates between AS and A2 falls by about 25,000. Is this truly a reflection of the dropout rate of young biologists? If it is, and I've not been able to substantiate my gut feeling, this is very worrying figure indeed.

At a glance, the overall grades at A2 are better than at AS, but if over 25% of the weaker candidates are already removed from the picture, there doesn't appear to be an overall improvement between years 12 and 13, as the graphical presentation of the data would have us believe. I'm finding the data somewhat puzzling, and I'm supposed to be a scientist. Lies, damned lies and statistics anyone?