Students taking IT based courses have fallen in number, with students taking the 2012 ICT A-level exams falling to 11,088 compared to figures of 11,960 in 2011.

ICT Grades also failed to improve significantly, while female student numbers fell by nearly 400 compared to figures in 2011.

The figures will be disappointing to the government and IT industry which are trying to increase the UK IT industry, who have been attempting to increase the uptake of IT courses.