This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40952125
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Boys help A-level grades edge upwards | Boys help A-level grades edge upwards |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Top A-level grades have increased for the first time in six years, as teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland get their results. | Top A-level grades have increased for the first time in six years, as teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland get their results. |
| A* and A grades were awarded to 26.3% of entries - up by 0.5 percentage points compared with last year - with boys overtaking girls in top grades. | A* and A grades were awarded to 26.3% of entries - up by 0.5 percentage points compared with last year - with boys overtaking girls in top grades. |
| There was a fall in the top grades for 13 subjects in England with new content and now only assessed by final exams. | There was a fall in the top grades for 13 subjects in England with new content and now only assessed by final exams. |
| The number of university places allocated so far has dropped this year. | The number of university places allocated so far has dropped this year. |
| In A* and A grades, boys have moved ahead of girls, with 26.6% of boys getting these results compared with 26.1% of girls, reversing a 0.3% gap last year. | In A* and A grades, boys have moved ahead of girls, with 26.6% of boys getting these results compared with 26.1% of girls, reversing a 0.3% gap last year. |
| 'Buyer's market' | 'Buyer's market' |
| The Ucas admissions body says that 416,000 university places have so far been confirmed - down 2% on the same point last year. | The Ucas admissions body says that 416,000 university places have so far been confirmed - down 2% on the same point last year. |
| This is expected to mean a "buyer's market", with more options available to those looking for university places. | This is expected to mean a "buyer's market", with more options available to those looking for university places. |
| University applications from the UK and European Union countries have fallen compared with last year and there is a demographic dip in the number of 18 year olds. | University applications from the UK and European Union countries have fallen compared with last year and there is a demographic dip in the number of 18 year olds. |
| Many universities, including in the prestigious Russell Group, will still have places on offer through the clearing system, which matches people looking for places with vacancies on courses. | Many universities, including in the prestigious Russell Group, will still have places on offer through the clearing system, which matches people looking for places with vacancies on courses. |
| Grenfell fire | Grenfell fire |
| Pupils at a secondary school close to the Grenfell Tower fire in London received their AS-level results. | Pupils at a secondary school close to the Grenfell Tower fire in London received their AS-level results. |
| Four pupils from Kensington Aldridge academy died in the fire and 50 were made homeless. | Four pupils from Kensington Aldridge academy died in the fire and 50 were made homeless. |
| But in this year's results, more than 40% of the pupils achieved A to B grades. | But in this year's results, more than 40% of the pupils achieved A to B grades. |
| Head teacher David Benson said: "The pupils have been incredible." | Head teacher David Benson said: "The pupils have been incredible." |
| Changes to the qualifications system in England mean 13 A-level subjects this year have been decided solely by final exams, with no link to coursework or AS-levels taken after the first year of study. | Changes to the qualifications system in England mean 13 A-level subjects this year have been decided solely by final exams, with no link to coursework or AS-levels taken after the first year of study. |
| The overall results remain broadly similar to last year, with over a quarter of entries receiving top grades. The proportion of the highest A* grades has nudged up by 0.2% to 8.3%. The overall A* to E pass rate is marginally down at 97.9%. | The overall results remain broadly similar to last year, with over a quarter of entries receiving top grades. The proportion of the highest A* grades has nudged up by 0.2% to 8.3%. The overall A* to E pass rate is marginally down at 97.9%. |
| But in those new-style A-level subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, there were 0.7% fewer A* and A grades overall. Some 24.3% of entries attained the top grades in these subjects. | But in those new-style A-level subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, there were 0.7% fewer A* and A grades overall. Some 24.3% of entries attained the top grades in these subjects. |
| Exam boards said the fall in results reflected a lower-achieving group of candidates, rather than the exams being made "more challenging". | Exam boards said the fall in results reflected a lower-achieving group of candidates, rather than the exams being made "more challenging". |
| In previous years, when more candidates sat AS levels as the first stage of the exam, some poorer performing pupils would have been "weeded out", said Mark Bedlow, director of regulation at exam board OCR. | In previous years, when more candidates sat AS levels as the first stage of the exam, some poorer performing pupils would have been "weeded out", said Mark Bedlow, director of regulation at exam board OCR. |
| Leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, Geoff Barton, said that when AS-levels no longer contributed to final A-level grades, schools were increasingly likely to abandon the exam. | Leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, Geoff Barton, said that when AS-levels no longer contributed to final A-level grades, schools were increasingly likely to abandon the exam. |
| AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. | AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. |
| Testing new exams | Testing new exams |
| But changes to A-level exams, including updated content, were defended by John Blake, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank. | |
| He said they had been designed to end a culture within schools of pupils repeatedly resitting exams to get the best grade. This was painful and time-consuming for teachers and pupils, he claimed. | |
| "It led to less teaching time and made it harder to get a proper grasp of the subject." | "It led to less teaching time and made it harder to get a proper grasp of the subject." |
| But there have been concerns from pupils who have been the first to take these revised exams. | But there have been concerns from pupils who have been the first to take these revised exams. |
| A survey of A-level students from the Student Room website found worries about a lack of textbooks and practice papers for the new style of exams. | A survey of A-level students from the Student Room website found worries about a lack of textbooks and practice papers for the new style of exams. |
| Alex Scharaschkin, director of research and compliance at AQA board, said: "We do sympathise and understand it's an anxious time for students who are the first to go into these first qualifications." | Alex Scharaschkin, director of research and compliance at AQA board, said: "We do sympathise and understand it's an anxious time for students who are the first to go into these first qualifications." |
| He said some groups of pupils will have adapted to the changes easily, while others would have found it more difficult. | He said some groups of pupils will have adapted to the changes easily, while others would have found it more difficult. |
| Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "We want everyone, regardless of background, to be able to fulfil their potential and for many, A levels are the pathway to a university degree. | Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "We want everyone, regardless of background, to be able to fulfil their potential and for many, A levels are the pathway to a university degree. |
| "The increase in entries to facilitating subjects, those that give students the greatest choice of options at university, mean even more young people will have access to all the opportunities higher education provides. | "The increase in entries to facilitating subjects, those that give students the greatest choice of options at university, mean even more young people will have access to all the opportunities higher education provides. |
| "There has been a strong uptake in core subjects, such as maths, which continues to be the most popular A level with maths and further maths having nearly 25 per cent more entries than in 2010." | "There has been a strong uptake in core subjects, such as maths, which continues to be the most popular A level with maths and further maths having nearly 25 per cent more entries than in 2010." |
| Were your A-level results better or worse than you expected? Send us your questions and concerns. | Were your A-level results better or worse than you expected? Send us your questions and concerns. |
| Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |