Rise in top grades despite tougher exams
A-level results day has seen the highest proportion of As and A*s awarded since 2012.
The Department for Education says that some 26.4 per cent of exams were awarded top grades this year, although the proportion awarded A* to C dropped slightly from 79 per cent to 78.4 per cent.
Despite restructuring of exams and marking systems, with coursework no longer included, 97.6 per cent of A-level entries were awarded A* to E grades. Students sat more challenging exams in 13 subjects last academic year, with 11 more following this year.
The data from this year's results also shows male students outperforming female students (26.6 per cent of boys were awarded an A or A*, compared with 26.2 per cent of girls), a trend that began last year for the first time since the turn of the millenium.
According to Ucas, a record 27.9 per cent of the 18-year-old population had been accepted onto university courses, with 411,860 students taking places this September so far.
Latest News
13/03/2026 - 09:49
The government has developed a child-friendly version of its Child Poverty Strategy, which can be used by teachers to have important conversations with children about the challenges facing families in poverty.
13/03/2026 - 09:30
An extra £40.5 million of funding has been allocated to support essential capital repairs and maintenance across schools, colleges and universities in Wales.
12/03/2026 - 10:03
Education Business LIVE 2026 will feature a session from NASBTT on how teacher training programmes can build trainees’ knowledge, attitudes and essential soft skills.
12/03/2026 - 09:48
An Ofsted report finds the challenges schools face in supporting children in care are mainly due to inconsistencies in local authority practice, unclear national expectations, and a lack of training for staff.
11/03/2026 - 14:00
The new measures will help universities meet their Prevent Duty, while the Office for Students will strengthen how it monitors whether universities are meeting Prevent responsibilities.
