by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Manufacturers across Kent and the south east have welcomed a rise in the number of students taking A levels in relevant subjects.

EEF South East, representing employers, said they would be encouraged by the greater popularity of the so-called STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and maths.

Nationally, there was an 11 per cent rise in maths entrants, 15 per cent in further maths, and five per cent in physics. Grades achieved were: 82 per cent A-C in maths, 90 per cent A-C in further maths, and 71 per cent A-C in physics.

EEF South East region director David Seall said: "Manufacturers in the south and east will be encouraged that more young people are choosing STEM subjects and achieving good grades - both vital to the region’s future skill needs and beneficial to the employment prospects of the students taking them. This is another positive move towards reversing the previous decline in numbers."

But he also voiced concern the lack of full funding for additional university places would squeeze some courses.

"Despite steps to increase the number of university places, particularly in STEM subjects, the funding squeeze could mean that some applicants still miss out. This will not send out the right signal to people considering their subject choices in future and could risk undoing some of the positive progress made in increasing participation in recent years."

The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) also welcomed the rise, but said more work needed to be done to encourage students from all backgrounds and in particular women, to take key subjects such as physics and maths.

Although the number of women taking STEM subjects, they still represented only 22 per cent of physics students, 30 per cent of further maths students, and 40 per cent of maths students.

Paul Jackson, ETB chief executive congratulated students and teachers on the excellent results. "With engineering set to play a key role in the economic recovery, it is vital to encourage even more young people to take key subjects such as physics and maths," he said.

"With the UK being the sixth largest manufacturing nation in the world, nurturing and developing young scientists and engineers will be key to building our nation’s future success."