A-levels grades drop for second year running
Exam grades in Wales still recovering from pandemic disruption
Top grades at A-level in Wales have fallen for the second year in a row.
The proportion of A and A* grades this year is 34% compared to 40.9% in 2022. But it's still higher than before the pandemic.
Exams watchdog Qualifications Wales said many grade boundaries were set lower to recognise the impact of disruption caused by Covid.
The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, has congratulated learners across Wales.
This year results are broadly midway between the results awarded in 2019 (the last year before the pandemic) and 2022 (the first year that students sat exams following the pandemic).
Many vocational learners also received their Level 3 results today.
This year’s GCSE results will be announced next Thursday, 24th August.
The Minister visited Coleg Gwent in Ebbw Vale this morning, where he met students collecting their results. He said:
“I want to wish a big congratulations to everyone receiving their results today. It’s a huge day for you, the culmination of years of hard work, and I hope today is a reward for all your efforts.
“We know what a challenging time this has been. Our aim in providing extra support this year was to make sure the exams were fair, despite the difficulties you’ve faced.
“For anyone who didn’t quite get the results you wanted, or you’re unsure of your next steps, don’t be too disappointed and don’t be too hard on yourself. There are lots of options open to you, including university clearing, apprenticeships, maybe starting your own business. Careers Wales is a great place to start for advice and your school or college will be there to support you too.
“Our Young Person’s Guarantee provides everyone under the age of 25 with the opportunity to enrol in education or training, find work or become self-employed, so you have lots of choices to pursue the career you want.
“I hope all staff and students are proud of their hard work, enjoy the rest of the summer and look forward to the exciting opportunities you have ahead of you.”
Senior Policy Officer for the National Education Union Cymru, Mary van den Heuvel, said: “NEU Cymru would like to say congratulations to everyone receiving their results today.
"Young people and the education professionals who teach and support them have worked hard and will be relieved and excited to get their results today. The last few years have been extremely challenging for everyone in education.
“It is important we remember that these results cannot be compared with other years – Qualifications Wales has adjusted the results, because of Covid-19, so we already know they will overall be broadly midway between 2019 and 2022.
“It is also important to remember today that if young people don’t get the results they want it isn’t the end of the road. If they are planning on going to university, there will be lots of options through the ‘clearing’ system, and they can speak to their school or college to consider their options.
“Our members hope mitigations continue for next year. Covid is still having an impact in schools and colleges, and attendance levels are still down on pre-Covid levels.
"We need to support young people and their teachers and lecturers, to make sure they are not put under excessive and unhelpful pressure around results.
"Covid has had, and will continue to have, an impact, and we shouldn’t underestimate how everyone in schools and colleges has had to adapt to a range of changes in the last few years.”
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official Wales, said: “It will be essential for higher and further education providers and employers to recognise the particular circumstances and context around this year’s grades and to act sensitively when considering their place offers or offers of employment to young people.
“In the context of the concerns around the attainment gap it is particularly important that this cohort of young people is given every opportunity to realise their ambitions and that employers and education providers exercise some flexibility and open mindedness when considering candidates for jobs or courses.”