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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| A-levels: Top grades down, but more university places | A-levels: Top grades down, but more university places |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The proportion of top A-level grades has fallen slightly this year, but record numbers have been accepted on university courses. | The proportion of top A-level grades has fallen slightly this year, but record numbers have been accepted on university courses. |
| A* and A grades were awarded to 25.9% of entries, down 0.1% compared with last year. But in a year of "stable" results, overall passes rose by 0.1%. | A* and A grades were awarded to 25.9% of entries, down 0.1% compared with last year. But in a year of "stable" results, overall passes rose by 0.1%. |
| The Ucas university admissions service says 409,000 places have been confirmed, up 3% on last year. | The Ucas university admissions service says 409,000 places have been confirmed, up 3% on last year. |
| Universities minister Jo Johnson hailed the rising numbers as "great news". | Universities minister Jo Johnson hailed the rising numbers as "great news". |
| Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results on Thursday. | Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results on Thursday. |
| The exam boards say that the number of A-levels taken this year has risen to over 850,000, with maths, English and biology the most popular. There was a sharp increase in pupils taking computing. | |
| "The over-riding message from this year's figures is one of stability. There have been no significant changes to the system," said Michael Turner, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications. | "The over-riding message from this year's figures is one of stability. There have been no significant changes to the system," said Michael Turner, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications. |
| The overall pass rate has risen marginally to 98.1% and the proportion getting the very top A* grade remained the same at 8.2%, with A grades down by 0.1%. | The overall pass rate has risen marginally to 98.1% and the proportion getting the very top A* grade remained the same at 8.2%, with A grades down by 0.1%. |
| Schools minister Nick Gibb said the results showed the impact of the government's drive for "core academic subjects" with a 20% increase in maths entries since 2010. | |
| "As a result thousands more pupils, from all backgrounds, are studying subjects that will secure them a place at a top university or an apprenticeship and that will help to secure well paid employment," said Mr Gibb. | |
| The ASCL head teachers' union said that it was "disappointing" to see a decline in some subjects, such as music, German and design and technology. Heads linked the decline to budget pressures making it difficult to sustain subjects with smaller numbers of pupils. | The ASCL head teachers' union said that it was "disappointing" to see a decline in some subjects, such as music, German and design and technology. Heads linked the decline to budget pressures making it difficult to sustain subjects with smaller numbers of pupils. |
| The British Council also highlighted the further fall in pupils taking French and said the numbers taking languages were "disappointingly low". | |
| The CBI director general, John Cridland, emphasised the importance of providing high status vocational options for students. | |
| "For too long vocational choices have been seen as the understudy to academic subjects, but this simply won't wash anymore. Vocational qualifications should have the same A-level brand, which is well-respected by businesses," said Mr Cridland. | |
| Gender gap | Gender gap |
| But this year's lifting of the cap on university places in England has seen more students than ever accepted on to courses. | But this year's lifting of the cap on university places in England has seen more students than ever accepted on to courses. |
| Initial figures from Ucas show a 5% increase in places for 18 year olds in the UK, but few among older age groups. | Initial figures from Ucas show a 5% increase in places for 18 year olds in the UK, but few among older age groups. |
| The gender gap has widened further, with 27,000 more women than men about to start courses this year. | The gender gap has widened further, with 27,000 more women than men about to start courses this year. |
| The number of international students and from the European Union has also increased. | The number of international students and from the European Union has also increased. |
| A-level results | |
| What if my grades are disappointing? | What if my grades are disappointing? |
| Results Day: It was different in my day... | Results Day: It was different in my day... |
| Northern Ireland: Pass rate rises | Northern Ireland: Pass rate rises |
| Wales: Top grades rise, but below UK average | Wales: Top grades rise, but below UK average |
| With no fixed limit on the number of places universities are permitted to offer, there is likely to be more competition for students. | |
| In the run-up to results day, some universities have been attempting to secure students on to courses by revising conditional offers into unconditional ones. | |
| Clearing | Clearing |
| Any unallocated university places will be matched with students with the right grades through the process known as Clearing. | Any unallocated university places will be matched with students with the right grades through the process known as Clearing. |
| Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ university group, said Clearing would not be too different from previous years, despite the removal of the cap on student numbers. | |
| "A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said. | "A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said. |
| "Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them." | "Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them." |
| Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt warned that there still needed to be more effort to get female students to take science subjects. | |
| "We still waste far too much potential. These results remind us that progress on increasing the number of young women taking subjects like physics, maths and computing is still too slow." | |
| Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next? | Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next? |
| Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges. | Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges. |
| The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon. | The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon. |
| Send your questions to us in the following ways: | Send your questions to us in the following ways: |