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| A-level results show falling proportion of top grades | A-level results show falling proportion of top grades |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The proportion of A-level candidates gaining the highest grades of A* and A fell for the fourth year in a row, while the overall pass rate reversed last year’s trend with a slight rise. | The proportion of A-level candidates gaining the highest grades of A* and A fell for the fourth year in a row, while the overall pass rate reversed last year’s trend with a slight rise. |
| A or A* grades were awarded to 25.9% of A-level papers, compared with 26% the year before, while the total number of A*-E grades reversed 2014’s fall with a 0.1 percentage point uptick, to 98.1%. | A or A* grades were awarded to 25.9% of A-level papers, compared with 26% the year before, while the total number of A*-E grades reversed 2014’s fall with a 0.1 percentage point uptick, to 98.1%. |
| The share of entrants awarded A and A* grades has now declined by more than a full percentage point since 2011, when 27% were awarded the top grades, showing the impact of the government’s policy of fixing A-level outcomes to the cohort’s GCSE results two years previously. | The share of entrants awarded A and A* grades has now declined by more than a full percentage point since 2011, when 27% were awarded the top grades, showing the impact of the government’s policy of fixing A-level outcomes to the cohort’s GCSE results two years previously. |
| Related: A-level results day 2015: the latest news, analysis and reaction – live | Related: A-level results day 2015: the latest news, analysis and reaction – live |
| The fall in papers awarded the top A* and A grades was particularly marked in science subjects, including biology, as well as in English and mathematics. | The fall in papers awarded the top A* and A grades was particularly marked in science subjects, including biology, as well as in English and mathematics. |
| History, which again gained in popularity among students, suffered the steepest fall of the main subjects, dipping from 25.3% gaining the two top grades to 24.2% this year. Economics also dropped by a full percentage point, from 31.6% to 30.6%. | History, which again gained in popularity among students, suffered the steepest fall of the main subjects, dipping from 25.3% gaining the two top grades to 24.2% this year. Economics also dropped by a full percentage point, from 31.6% to 30.6%. |
| “The overriding message from this year’s figures is one of stability. There have been no significant changes to the system and the entries followed expected patterns,” said Michael Turner, director general of the Joint Council on Qualifications, which collates the results from the awarding organisations for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | “The overriding message from this year’s figures is one of stability. There have been no significant changes to the system and the entries followed expected patterns,” said Michael Turner, director general of the Joint Council on Qualifications, which collates the results from the awarding organisations for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The minister for universities, Jo Johnson, said the results suggested more students would be going to university later this year, including a record level from disadvantaged backgrounds. | The minister for universities, Jo Johnson, said the results suggested more students would be going to university later this year, including a record level from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
| “This is great news and shows that by lifting the cap on student numbers, we are helping more people than ever benefit from higher education,” Johnson said. | “This is great news and shows that by lifting the cap on student numbers, we are helping more people than ever benefit from higher education,” Johnson said. |
| The number of entries was up compared with 2014, despite a fall in the proportion of 17 and 18-year-olds in the population. Geography saw the biggest gain in entrants, while there was steep fall in takers for the much maligned General Studies, as students appeared to have switched to more conventional subjects and the likes of computing. | The number of entries was up compared with 2014, despite a fall in the proportion of 17 and 18-year-olds in the population. Geography saw the biggest gain in entrants, while there was steep fall in takers for the much maligned General Studies, as students appeared to have switched to more conventional subjects and the likes of computing. |
| Related: Clearing 2015: what to say on the phone on results day | Related: Clearing 2015: what to say on the phone on results day |
| While results in England were almost identical to the national picture, results in Wales suffered a further setback as the country digests a series of educational reforms. The proportion passing A-levels fell, with declines across the grades from A to E. | While results in England were almost identical to the national picture, results in Wales suffered a further setback as the country digests a series of educational reforms. The proportion passing A-levels fell, with declines across the grades from A to E. |
| The proportion of entries awarded the top grades of A or A* continues a decline seen since 2011. The fall has been attributed to more female candidates taking fewer subjects that university admissions tutors perceive to be less rigorous. Traditional subjects - known as facilitating subjects - are preferred by the most selective universities. This trend has erased the previous advantage in females achieving top grades. | The proportion of entries awarded the top grades of A or A* continues a decline seen since 2011. The fall has been attributed to more female candidates taking fewer subjects that university admissions tutors perceive to be less rigorous. Traditional subjects - known as facilitating subjects - are preferred by the most selective universities. This trend has erased the previous advantage in females achieving top grades. |
| In 2014, the A-level pass rate – A* to E grades – was down by 0.1 percentage point. It was the first time the pass rate had declined, although government statisticians later said the rate had remained “fairly stable” since 2010. | In 2014, the A-level pass rate – A* to E grades – was down by 0.1 percentage point. It was the first time the pass rate had declined, although government statisticians later said the rate had remained “fairly stable” since 2010. |
| Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers union, said teachers and pupils across the UK should be congratulated “without reservation” for what they had achieved. | Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers union, said teachers and pupils across the UK should be congratulated “without reservation” for what they had achieved. |
| “Our young people are working hard under tremendous pressure. Despite poorly planned reforms, constant criticism, cuts to pay and a rising tide of bureaucracy and workload, teachers are continuing to deliver the best for pupils,” Keates said. | “Our young people are working hard under tremendous pressure. Despite poorly planned reforms, constant criticism, cuts to pay and a rising tide of bureaucracy and workload, teachers are continuing to deliver the best for pupils,” Keates said. |
| Universities are vigorously competing to attract students, following the government’s move to abolish the cap on undergraduate numbers that limited recruitment. | Universities are vigorously competing to attract students, following the government’s move to abolish the cap on undergraduate numbers that limited recruitment. |
| With universities free to recruit more students and the £9,000 in tuition fee income they each bring, there has been an upsurge in institutions making unconditional offers to lock in applicants before receiving their results. | With universities free to recruit more students and the £9,000 in tuition fee income they each bring, there has been an upsurge in institutions making unconditional offers to lock in applicants before receiving their results. |
| More universities, including those in the Russell Group of leading research institutions, are also offering places through the Ucas clearing process for admissions, with some hoping to attract students determined to trade up after receiving better than expected grades. | More universities, including those in the Russell Group of leading research institutions, are also offering places through the Ucas clearing process for admissions, with some hoping to attract students determined to trade up after receiving better than expected grades. |
| “With the cap on student numbers lifted, those beginning university this year hold the cards when it comes to securing their university of choice, with the broadest ever range of options on offer,” said Prof Trevor McMillan, vice-chancellor of Keele University. | “With the cap on student numbers lifted, those beginning university this year hold the cards when it comes to securing their university of choice, with the broadest ever range of options on offer,” said Prof Trevor McMillan, vice-chancellor of Keele University. |
| “On A-level results day, while many students will already have offers that they’re able to take up, the clearing process no longer has a stigma attached and should be viewed positively.” | “On A-level results day, while many students will already have offers that they’re able to take up, the clearing process no longer has a stigma attached and should be viewed positively.” |
| Universities UK, which represents the majority of British universities, said more undergraduate places were available than ever before, despite the number of applications also rising. | Universities UK, which represents the majority of British universities, said more undergraduate places were available than ever before, despite the number of applications also rising. |
| Although secondary free schools have yet to see their pupils reach the sixth form, the government’s flagship education policy received another boost from the London Academy of Excellence, a sixth-form free school near the 2012 Olympic stadium in east London. | Although secondary free schools have yet to see their pupils reach the sixth form, the government’s flagship education policy received another boost from the London Academy of Excellence, a sixth-form free school near the 2012 Olympic stadium in east London. |
| Related: I failed all of my A-levels. But it turned out that it wasn’t the end | Anne Perkins | Related: I failed all of my A-levels. But it turned out that it wasn’t the end | Anne Perkins |
| The school said that so far 80 of its pupils had gained places at Russell Group universities, compared with 68 in its first year, and that more than seven out of 10 entrants received grades between A* and B. | The school said that so far 80 of its pupils had gained places at Russell Group universities, compared with 68 in its first year, and that more than seven out of 10 entrants received grades between A* and B. |
| There were outstanding results from some of England’s leading independent schools, including Magdalen College school in Oxford, where 11 pupils each achieved four A* or above, with 29 of its 135 sixth formers winning places to study at Oxford or Cambridge. | There were outstanding results from some of England’s leading independent schools, including Magdalen College school in Oxford, where 11 pupils each achieved four A* or above, with 29 of its 135 sixth formers winning places to study at Oxford or Cambridge. |
| “Such results are the culmination of excellent teaching, hard work and sensitive support over many months,” said Tim Hands, Magdalen’s headteacher, who next year will become head of Winchester college. | “Such results are the culmination of excellent teaching, hard work and sensitive support over many months,” said Tim Hands, Magdalen’s headteacher, who next year will become head of Winchester college. |
| The headteacher of Brighton college, Richard Cairns, said his school had produced incredible results, after the independent school announced the best ever performance by a co-educational school in England. More than 98% of its entrants gained grades between A* and B, and none achieved lower than C. | The headteacher of Brighton college, Richard Cairns, said his school had produced incredible results, after the independent school announced the best ever performance by a co-educational school in England. More than 98% of its entrants gained grades between A* and B, and none achieved lower than C. |
| One pupil, Majid Mohamed, gained three A* grades and an A, and follows his elder brothers Omar and Abeed in going from Brighton college to Cambridge University. |