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| University entries down on A-level results day | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland begin to find out their A-level results, universities are reporting a fall in the number of places so far allocated. | |
| A drop in applications for university is expected to mean a "buyer's market" with many courses still available. | |
| There have been 416,000 university places confirmed - down 2% at the same point last year. | |
| Despite reforms, A-level results are expected to be similar to last year. | |
| Changes to the qualifications system in England mean many A-levels are being decided by final exams, with no link to coursework or AS-levels. | |
| But the national results are expected to be kept similar to last year, when about a quarter of entries received top grades. | |
| More exam changes | More exam changes |
| With a reduction in applications, a demographic dip in the number of 18-year-olds and uncertainty about the results from the new A-level system, many universities, including in the prestigious Russell Group, will still have places on offer. | |
| The number of students from European Union countries has fallen by 3% compared with last year. | |
| There are suggestions that universities could have to accept lower entry grades in the competition for students. | |
| This year's exams in England reflect the latest phase of changes to qualifications, which have cut down on coursework and become "decoupled" from AS-levels. | This year's exams in England reflect the latest phase of changes to qualifications, which have cut down on coursework and become "decoupled" from AS-levels. |
| Results for 13 subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, will now depend on the final exams taken in the summer. | Results for 13 subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, will now depend on the final exams taken in the summer. |
| Head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the change would mean the "death knell" of AS-levels, with schools increasingly likely to abandon the exam, which would no longer count towards the A-level grade. | Head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the change would mean the "death knell" of AS-levels, with schools increasingly likely to abandon the exam, which would no longer count towards the A-level grade. |
| AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. | AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. |
| He also warned of rushed changes to qualifications, and said that reducing the importance of AS-levels for university applications meant arts subjects such as drama were being "squeezed out of the curriculum". | He also warned of rushed changes to qualifications, and said that reducing the importance of AS-levels for university applications meant arts subjects such as drama were being "squeezed out of the curriculum". |
| Mr Barton added that a lot of people were also receiving their "vocational results", and "this is their day and we don't want it to be overshadowed by criticism". | Mr Barton added that a lot of people were also receiving their "vocational results", and "this is their day and we don't want it to be overshadowed by criticism". |
| But the exam reforms, and the move to final exams rather than modules, were defended by John Blake, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank. | But the exam reforms, and the move to final exams rather than modules, were defended by John Blake, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank. |
| "The changes to A-levels were designed to end a culture of endlessly resitting examinations, which was as painful and time-consuming for teachers as it was for students," he said. | "The changes to A-levels were designed to end a culture of endlessly resitting examinations, which was as painful and time-consuming for teachers as it was for students," he said. |
| "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. |
| "We should all be pleased that it is over." | "We should all be pleased that it is over." |
| 'Fairness' in results | 'Fairness' in results |
| There have been concerns from pupils who have been the first to take these revised exams. | 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. |
| Even if there is volatility in results for individual schools, the overall results are likely to be kept comparable to last year's. | Even if there is volatility in results for individual schools, the overall results are likely to be kept comparable to last year's. |
| Sally Collier, head of the exam watchdog, Ofqual, said the regulator would "ensure fairness between students over time and between boards". | Sally Collier, head of the exam watchdog, Ofqual, said the regulator would "ensure fairness between students over time and between boards". |
| "This is especially important when qualifications change," she added. | "This is especially important when qualifications change," she added. |
| Last year, 25.8% of entries were awarded an A* or A, down by 0.1% on the previous year. The overall pass rate remained unchanged at 98.1%. | Last year, 25.8% of entries were awarded an A* or A, down by 0.1% on the previous year. The overall pass rate remained unchanged at 98.1%. |
| There are also employers who are increasingly recruiting directly from A-level students, rather than only through graduate trainees. | There are also employers who are increasingly recruiting directly from A-level students, rather than only through graduate trainees. |
| Financial firm Grant Thornton says its intake of A-level students has almost quadrupled compared with six years ago - with 70 places on offer this year, representing more than a quarter of the company's intake of trainees. | Financial firm Grant Thornton says its intake of A-level students has almost quadrupled compared with six years ago - with 70 places on offer this year, representing more than a quarter of the company's intake of trainees. |
| What questions would you like to ask now the A-level results are out? | What questions would you like to ask now the A-level results are out? |
| Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |