Record high for A-level grades as students pick up results
It's after exams were cancelled for the second year
The number of A-levels graded A or higher has risen to an all-time high after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row due to coronavirus.
Students across the UK have been picking up their results today (10th August), but most have been given grades determined by teachers, rather than exams, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught during the pandemic.
In total, more than two in five (44.8%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer, up by 6.3 percentage points on last year when 38.5% achieved the top grades.
In 2019, when exams were last run before the pandemic, just 25.5% of entries achieved an A or above.
Girls performed better than boys at the top grades, and female maths students overtook boys for the first time in the number of A* grades achieved, figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland show.
Overall, the proportion of entries awarded the top A* grade this year has surged to 19.1%, compared with 14.3% in 2020 and 7.8% in 2019.
Students across Lincolnshire and Newark have been telling us about their results.
Lincoln University Technical College student Rudi achieved AAA* in A Level maths, physics, and further maths.
In September he will begin a four-year MEng degree programme in engineering at Peterhouse College with the University of Cambridge.
"I was in touch with most of the teachers throughout lockdown who have been giving me help along with online lessons.
"I would have rather done exams, but we pretty much did exams anyway as we did past papers.
"With the whole lockdown thing I didn't mind it too much as I found I could work quite well independently."
Jack got distinctions in his BTECs.
"It's awesome, all the hard work has paid off.
"I found it quite challenging but it was fine to carry out the coursework remotely."
Principal of Lincoln UTC, John Morrison said it's been a difficult year.
"Year 13 students have endured disruption to their studies for the last two academic years. Therefore, we are particularly pleased that despite numerous challenges our students have achieved excellent and very well-deserved A Level results.
“I am very confident that the students who aspire to attend university will have achieved the grades needed to be accepted onto their preferred course, despite the unusual circumstances.
"Both the students and the teaching team have worked very hard, and we look forward to seeing our students succeed in the next stage of their education and career.”
On Tuesday, Ucas said a record number of students have secured a place on their first-choice university course following the bumper year for results.
But youngsters who missed out on the grades required to meet their offers are likely to face greater competition for a place at top institutions as there could be fewer courses on offer in clearing.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told our Westminster correspondent that capacity shouldn't be a problem: