This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8211245.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Record top A-level grades awarded | Record top A-level grades awarded |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A record-breaking number of A-level entries for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been awarded A grades. | A record-breaking number of A-level entries for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been awarded A grades. |
| More than one in four entries - 26.7% - got the top grade, up from 25.9% last year and the overall pass rate rose to 97.5%, up 0.3 percentage points. | More than one in four entries - 26.7% - got the top grade, up from 25.9% last year and the overall pass rate rose to 97.5%, up 0.3 percentage points. |
| The improvement in grades - for the 27th year in a row - will add to the pressure on university places. | The improvement in grades - for the 27th year in a row - will add to the pressure on university places. |
| There are there are 60,000 more applicants for university places in the UK than this time last year. | There are there are 60,000 more applicants for university places in the UK than this time last year. |
| That is a 10% rise on last year. | That is a 10% rise on last year. |
| Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are getting the results of their A and AS-level exams. | Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are getting the results of their A and AS-level exams. |
| Scottish students have already received the results of their Highers and Standard Grade exams - which showed a slight rise in standards achieved. | Scottish students have already received the results of their Highers and Standard Grade exams - which showed a slight rise in standards achieved. |
| The A-level results have been released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the body which represents the exam boards. | The A-level results have been released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the body which represents the exam boards. |
| They show that more than three quarters of entries (75.1%) were awarded at least a C grade. | They show that more than three quarters of entries (75.1%) were awarded at least a C grade. |
| The figures reveal that girls continue to outshine boys generally at A-level, but that the gap between them at the top grade is narrowing. | The figures reveal that girls continue to outshine boys generally at A-level, but that the gap between them at the top grade is narrowing. |
| The percentage of entries from boys which were awarded an A is 25.6% this year, compared with 27.6% of entries from girls. | The percentage of entries from boys which were awarded an A is 25.6% this year, compared with 27.6% of entries from girls. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| The results show traditional subjects remain the most popular at A-level, with English and maths the top choices. | The results show traditional subjects remain the most popular at A-level, with English and maths the top choices. |
| There were an extra 7,882 entries for maths this year, and an extra 1,382 entries for further maths. | There were an extra 7,882 entries for maths this year, and an extra 1,382 entries for further maths. |
| There was also an increase in the number of entries for chemistry and physics, but a fall in the number taking biology. | There was also an increase in the number of entries for chemistry and physics, but a fall in the number taking biology. |
| Fewer people took French and German this year. There were 552 fewer entries for A-level French - a fall of 3.7% - and a 7.7% drop in those taking German. | Fewer people took French and German this year. There were 552 fewer entries for A-level French - a fall of 3.7% - and a 7.7% drop in those taking German. |
| Jim Sinclair, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), said: "These are excellent results. They are the outcome of hard work of students and teachers, who deserve to be congratulated. | Jim Sinclair, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), said: "These are excellent results. They are the outcome of hard work of students and teachers, who deserve to be congratulated. |
| "It is particularly good to report improved uptake and outcomes for mathematics and science." | "It is particularly good to report improved uptake and outcomes for mathematics and science." |
| Figures presented by the JCQ at a media briefing show the proportion of top A-level grades awarded to independent schools is increasing. | |
| About 50% of entries from the independent sector were given A grades, the exam boards said. | |
| This compared with about 40% of entries from selective state schools and about 22% of those from other state schools. | |
| In response to the surge in applications to UK universities, the Westminster government recently announced partial funding for 10,000 extra places in "priority" subjects - predominantly sciences, engineering, technology and maths. | In response to the surge in applications to UK universities, the Westminster government recently announced partial funding for 10,000 extra places in "priority" subjects - predominantly sciences, engineering, technology and maths. |
| There have been rises in numbers applying to most of these subjects, with the exception of chemistry. | There have been rises in numbers applying to most of these subjects, with the exception of chemistry. |
| Clearing pressure | Clearing pressure |
| Those who do not achieve the grades needed for their degree offers can use the "clearing" system to search for an alternative available university place, but the pressure on places means fewer students will find a course this way this year. | Those who do not achieve the grades needed for their degree offers can use the "clearing" system to search for an alternative available university place, but the pressure on places means fewer students will find a course this way this year. |
| It is thought about 22,000 places will be available by this route - about half the number allocated through clearing last year. | It is thought about 22,000 places will be available by this route - about half the number allocated through clearing last year. |
| Oxford and Cambridge saw record applications for the next academic year - around 15,000 people applied for the 3,000 or so places on offer at each institution. | Oxford and Cambridge saw record applications for the next academic year - around 15,000 people applied for the 3,000 or so places on offer at each institution. |
| Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of leading universities, told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four universities were facing pressure for places. | Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of leading universities, told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four universities were facing pressure for places. |
| "We are turning away candidates with not just three As but four four As," she said. | "We are turning away candidates with not just three As but four four As," she said. |
| However, she added, universities strove to look at the whole candidate, not just their grades, and A-levels, although not perfect, were "on the whole, fit for purpose". | However, she added, universities strove to look at the whole candidate, not just their grades, and A-levels, although not perfect, were "on the whole, fit for purpose". |
| The Conservatives said ministers were to blame for the thousands of students who may miss out on a university place. | The Conservatives said ministers were to blame for the thousands of students who may miss out on a university place. |
| The irony is that while a record number of students are likely to get the top grades, more young people than ever are going to be disappointed as they fail to get a place at university Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrats | The irony is that while a record number of students are likely to get the top grades, more young people than ever are going to be disappointed as they fail to get a place at university Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrats |
| Shadow education spokesman David Willetts said: "First, they cut the number of extra university places, then they told universities they could offer some new places after all but only on an unfunded basis, which many of them could not accept. | Shadow education spokesman David Willetts said: "First, they cut the number of extra university places, then they told universities they could offer some new places after all but only on an unfunded basis, which many of them could not accept. |
| "Now, they are still threatening the university sector with fines for over-recruitment. This is a recipe for disaster." | "Now, they are still threatening the university sector with fines for over-recruitment. This is a recipe for disaster." |
| Liberal Democrat spokesperson for universities, Stephen Williams, said students applying to study arts subjects would not benefit from the extra places announced. | Liberal Democrat spokesperson for universities, Stephen Williams, said students applying to study arts subjects would not benefit from the extra places announced. |
| "The irony is that while a record number of students are likely to get the top grades, more young people than ever are going to be disappointed as they fail to get a place at university." | "The irony is that while a record number of students are likely to get the top grades, more young people than ever are going to be disappointed as they fail to get a place at university." |
| Higher Education Minister David Lammy told BBC Radio Four's Today programme 350,000 applicants had already had their places confirmed this morning - nearly two-thirds of those who had applied. | Higher Education Minister David Lammy told BBC Radio Four's Today programme 350,000 applicants had already had their places confirmed this morning - nearly two-thirds of those who had applied. |
| He said reports of thousands of well-qualified applicants being turned away were misleading: "There are some young people, of course I mean last year there were three thousand young people who got straight As that didn't go to university. | He said reports of thousands of well-qualified applicants being turned away were misleading: "There are some young people, of course I mean last year there were three thousand young people who got straight As that didn't go to university. |
| "And that's because, for example, they had a particular course and a particular institution in mind and they didn't get an offer at that institution - so they re-apply; they do extra things during their gap year to build up, if you like, their CV. | "And that's because, for example, they had a particular course and a particular institution in mind and they didn't get an offer at that institution - so they re-apply; they do extra things during their gap year to build up, if you like, their CV. |
| "So for a whole range of reasons you can have outstanding candidates that don't go in their first attempt but re-apply the following year." | "So for a whole range of reasons you can have outstanding candidates that don't go in their first attempt but re-apply the following year." |
| Have you received your A-level results today? Are you pleased with your grades? What do you hope to do next? Send us your comments. | Have you received your A-level results today? Are you pleased with your grades? What do you hope to do next? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |