The number of students taking technology A-level subjects has dropped again, school leavers' results published today show.

In 2007 5,610 took A-level Computing, compared with 6,233 last year.

And the number taking A-level Information and Communication Technology fell to 13,360 from 14,208.

Despite the decrease of lower-level qualifications, 2007 has seen a modest increase in the number of applications for computer science undergraduate courses, according to Dr Mike Rodd, director of the British Computer Society.

‘We want young people to know they have not missed the boat on getting into IT just because they did not study the right combination of A-levels, or because they chose to go out to work instead,’ he said.

But the UK still faces an estimated 40 per cent drop in graduates from IT-related courses by 2009, from the peak in 2004.

Schools minister Jim Knight emphasised a 14 per cent rise in maths uptake since 2004.

‘We recognise its crucial importance to the UK economy and want to accelerate this trend over the coming years,’ said Knight.