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| A-level pass rate and A grades up | A-level pass rate and A grades up |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There has been another increase in the A-level pass rate and the proportion of entries awarded the top A grade. | There has been another increase in the A-level pass rate and the proportion of entries awarded the top A grade. |
| Figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications show 97.2% of entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland passed, up from 96.9%. | Figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications show 97.2% of entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland passed, up from 96.9%. |
| A grades went to 25.9% of the entries, up from 25.3% - and in Northern Ireland more than a third achieved an A. | A grades went to 25.9% of the entries, up from 25.3% - and in Northern Ireland more than a third achieved an A. |
| As the results were announced, the government explained how it was making A-levels more challenging in future. | As the results were announced, the government explained how it was making A-levels more challenging in future. |
| Following successful pilots of the changes, the tougher A-levels will be available to all from this September. | Following successful pilots of the changes, the tougher A-levels will be available to all from this September. |
| There were a record 827,737 A-level entries and 1.13 million AS-levels this year from more than 600,000 students. | There were a record 827,737 A-level entries and 1.13 million AS-levels this year from more than 600,000 students. |
| A-LEVEL RESULTS 2008 Pass rate / Grade AUK: 97.2% / 25.9%Northern Ireland: 98.2% / 35.4%England: 97.2% / 25.6%Wales: 97.1% / 24.1% Source: JCQ | |
| Entries for maths rose 7.5% from last year, to 65,239 - while further maths was up 15.5%, to only 9,483 entries. | Entries for maths rose 7.5% from last year, to 65,239 - while further maths was up 15.5%, to only 9,483 entries. |
| Among the subjects showing increases were the sciences with entries for chemistry up 3.5%, biology up 2.7% and physics up 2.3%. | Among the subjects showing increases were the sciences with entries for chemistry up 3.5%, biology up 2.7% and physics up 2.3%. |
| Some languages show an improvement with increases in French of 2.8% and Spanish (1.5%) but a decrease in German (0.9%). | Some languages show an improvement with increases in French of 2.8% and Spanish (1.5%) but a decrease in German (0.9%). |
| Other languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Russian, have shown steady increases in entry every year since 2002. | Other languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Russian, have shown steady increases in entry every year since 2002. |
| 'Celebration' | 'Celebration' |
| Jim Sinclair, the director of the joint council, which represents the main exam boards, said: "These results are excellent and we congratulate all students on their achievement. | Jim Sinclair, the director of the joint council, which represents the main exam boards, said: "These results are excellent and we congratulate all students on their achievement. |
| "The results show not only an improvement in the grades achieved but also an increased entry for maths, sciences and languages which are positive and encouraging developments all round." | "The results show not only an improvement in the grades achieved but also an increased entry for maths, sciences and languages which are positive and encouraging developments all round." |
| There has been a concerted effort to increase the numbers of young people pursuing the so-called "Stem" subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to raise UK skill levels and global competitiveness. | There has been a concerted effort to increase the numbers of young people pursuing the so-called "Stem" subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to raise UK skill levels and global competitiveness. |
| Only this week the Confederation of British Industry called for more to be done. | Only this week the Confederation of British Industry called for more to be done. |
| Dr Sinclair added: "This has to be a day for celebration." | Dr Sinclair added: "This has to be a day for celebration." |
| National breakdown | National breakdown |
| As usual Northern Ireland students outperformed those elsewhere, with 98.2% of entries passing and 35.4% awarded A grades. | As usual Northern Ireland students outperformed those elsewhere, with 98.2% of entries passing and 35.4% awarded A grades. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| In England 97.2% passed with 25.6 awarded A. In Wales, 97.1% passed and 24.1% achieved an A. | In England 97.2% passed with 25.6 awarded A. In Wales, 97.1% passed and 24.1% achieved an A. |
| Some students have been awarded a new qualification as part of a pilot aimed at stretching the brightest. | Some students have been awarded a new qualification as part of a pilot aimed at stretching the brightest. |
| The "extended project" is worth the equivalent of half an A-level and more than 1,400 students have been involved in a pilot with exam boards. | The "extended project" is worth the equivalent of half an A-level and more than 1,400 students have been involved in a pilot with exam boards. |
| From this September, the qualification will be open to sixth-formers and college students generally. | From this September, the qualification will be open to sixth-formers and college students generally. |
| It will also be a mandatory element in the new Diplomas, which begin being taught in five subjects in England this autumn, to about 20,200 pupils aged 14 to 19. | It will also be a mandatory element in the new Diplomas, which begin being taught in five subjects in England this autumn, to about 20,200 pupils aged 14 to 19. |
| 'Hard work' | 'Hard work' |
| And students starting A-level courses in September will become the first to be eligible for the new A* grade when they are awarded to those attaining more than 90% in 2010. The first pilot versions have been awarded this summer. | And students starting A-level courses in September will become the first to be eligible for the new A* grade when they are awarded to those attaining more than 90% in 2010. The first pilot versions have been awarded this summer. |
| The change followed criticism that the rise in the number of A grades at A-level meant universities could no longer spot the brightest students. | The change followed criticism that the rise in the number of A grades at A-level meant universities could no longer spot the brightest students. |
| Anthony McClaran, chief executive of Ucas, the body which handles undergraduate applications to UK universities, said: "As with every year, some people will inevitably claim that A-levels are getting easier but we shouldn't really take away from the hard work of those students who have done well in their results today. | Anthony McClaran, chief executive of Ucas, the body which handles undergraduate applications to UK universities, said: "As with every year, some people will inevitably claim that A-levels are getting easier but we shouldn't really take away from the hard work of those students who have done well in their results today. |
| "It is difficult to compare the A-levels of today with those of 40 years ago as the world is quite a different place. | "It is difficult to compare the A-levels of today with those of 40 years ago as the world is quite a different place. |
| "Many world records are being broken at the Olympics but that doesn't make the feat easier or the distances shorter." | "Many world records are being broken at the Olympics but that doesn't make the feat easier or the distances shorter." |
| Principal and head teacher discuss the difficulty of exams | Principal and head teacher discuss the difficulty of exams |
| The results statistics released on Thursday relate to exam entries, not students. The school-by-school breakdown - the "league tables" - is due to be published in January. | The results statistics released on Thursday relate to exam entries, not students. The school-by-school breakdown - the "league tables" - is due to be published in January. |
| Deprived areas | Deprived areas |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives have highlighted wide differences in the numbers of students taking A-levels across England. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives have highlighted wide differences in the numbers of students taking A-levels across England. |
| In some deprived areas, they said, only one in eight GCSE students goes on to study A-levels - well below the national average of 44%. | In some deprived areas, they said, only one in eight GCSE students goes on to study A-levels - well below the national average of 44%. |
| They analysed 2007 A-level entries and 2005 GCSE entries by local authority. | They analysed 2007 A-level entries and 2005 GCSE entries by local authority. |
| In 11 local authorities, under a quarter of children sat A-levels, while in Rochdale, Knowsley and Sandwell, the figure was one in eight or lower. | In 11 local authorities, under a quarter of children sat A-levels, while in Rochdale, Knowsley and Sandwell, the figure was one in eight or lower. |
| Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "People will be shocked to see that there are areas of the country where fewer than one in eight children sit A-levels. As ever, it is the poorest areas that are worst affected." | Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "People will be shocked to see that there are areas of the country where fewer than one in eight children sit A-levels. As ever, it is the poorest areas that are worst affected." |
| The Westminster government seized on caveats which the Tories acknowledged in the way the figures were compiled. | The Westminster government seized on caveats which the Tories acknowledged in the way the figures were compiled. |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "This back-of-a-fag-packet maths adds nothing to the picture on A-levels and completely ignores the fact that many youngsters travel between boroughs to do their A-levels, do other qualifications or work-based training or apprenticeships. | Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "This back-of-a-fag-packet maths adds nothing to the picture on A-levels and completely ignores the fact that many youngsters travel between boroughs to do their A-levels, do other qualifications or work-based training or apprenticeships. |
| "For example, according to these flawed figures, Kensington and Chelsea apparently has 193% of their pupils studying A-levels. All this shows is that some boroughs have lots of pupils travelling to do their A-levels, which is very common. | "For example, according to these flawed figures, Kensington and Chelsea apparently has 193% of their pupils studying A-levels. All this shows is that some boroughs have lots of pupils travelling to do their A-levels, which is very common. |
| "The fact is more young people are staying on in education than ever before. | "The fact is more young people are staying on in education than ever before. |
| "Rather than painting a picture of doom and gloom, the Tories should be preparing to congratulate pupils on their hard work." | "Rather than painting a picture of doom and gloom, the Tories should be preparing to congratulate pupils on their hard work." |
| A similar methodology is however used in official school performance statistics in Scotland. | A similar methodology is however used in official school performance statistics in Scotland. |
| The figure for pupils achieving Highers in S5 is given not as a proportion of those who attempted them but of those who originally began the fourth year - resulting in some cases in achievement rates of more than 100%. | The figure for pupils achieving Highers in S5 is given not as a proportion of those who attempted them but of those who originally began the fourth year - resulting in some cases in achievement rates of more than 100%. |
Are you getting your results today? Have you been involved in an "extended project"? Do you work with A-level students? Are you a mature student expecting your results? | Are you getting your results today? Have you been involved in an "extended project"? Do you work with A-level students? Are you a mature student expecting your results? |
| Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. |