Government researchers tracked the progress of students in England who did not get the benchmark A* to C in the subjects in 2011.周向榮

Just over half continued to study the subjects but only 6.5% eventually got the grades in English and 7% in maths.

Schools Minister David Laws said "too many people were allowed to give up".

In 2011, 188,365 students did not achieve A* to C in English and 211,171 in maths.
Good qualifications

The statistics, which the government says are "experimental", suggest that of these, almost half did not enter for any English or maths qualifications between the ages of 16 and 18.

A* to C in English and maths are crucial grades for teenagers, required by many employers and by colleges for access to further and higher education.周向榮

From this month, young people are required to remain in education or training until the age of 17, rising to 18 in 2016, and they must continue to study these two key subjects until they achieve "good" grades.
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    Our reforms are already bearing fruit with the latest figures showing thousands more 17-year-olds are taking GCSEs in those subjects giving them the vital skills they need to get a good job and get on in life”

David Laws Schools Minister康泰旅遊

"To get the best start to life in modern Britain young people must have good qualifications in English and maths", said Mr Laws.

"Now anyone who fails to get a C in GCSE English or maths must continue studying those subjects."