A-Level results in England expected to return to pre-pandemic grades – live

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The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has sounded a warning over the decline of small-entry A-levels, calling on the government to do more to champion languages and arts subjects.

Pepe Di’Iasio, the ASCL’s general secretary, said:

“While many students will achieve the grades to which they aspire, there will be others who are disappointed. We would urge them to keep calm, talk to their teachers, and consider their options. There will be excellent opportunities available to them and dropping a grade is not the end of the world.

“Looking at the pattern of A-level entries in England this year, we have seen the continued rise of maths as the most popular subject choice. It is great news that so many young people are studying this vital subject at this level and see maths as a route to further study and careers.

“However, there are several A-level subjects where numbers are small and we are concerned about their sustainability in sixth forms and colleges. This is partly because the funding rates for post-16 education are extremely tight, making it difficult for providers to put on courses for small classes.

“According to Ofqual’s statistics, entries in a number of these subjects fell alarmingly this year, including French by 8.3%, German by 6.8%, drama by 6.2% and music by 2.6%.

“In many cases, we fear small-entry options are simply no longer available because of funding cuts which have already had to be made, and that we are in the midst of a downward spiral where some subjects will effectively disappear from the state education system.

“It is imperative that the government carefully considers how funding rates are affecting A-level choices, and that it does more to champion languages and arts subjects.”

A record number of 18-year-olds are likely to be successful in securing their first choice of university this A-level results day, even if they narrowly miss their grades, the head of Ucas has suggested.

Jo Saxton, chief executive of the university admissions service, told PA this week it was a “good year to be a UK-domiciled 18-year-old” who wants to go to university.

She has suggested that British universities are keen to recruit UK school and college leavers because there is more “uncertainty” around the international market, and which overseas students are going to turn up.

Saxton added that domestic undergraduates offered universities “stability” for their “financial planning”.

Nearly 22,700 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England were available on the Ucas clearing site as of Wednesday last week – eight days before results day, a PA analysis showed.

A sample of 129 of the UK’s largest higher education providers showed 17 of the 24 elite Russell Group universities had more than 3,600 courses with vacancies for English residents on clearing.

Students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland await A-level results

Good morning, and welcome to our blog covering A-level results day as thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland await news of their grades.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said that she expects a “pretty straightforward year” for students as things have “returned to normal” since the pandemic.

Last year, 27.8% of UK A-level entries were awarded an A or A* grade (up from 27.2% in 2023). It was the highest proportion of entries scoring top grades outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22.

Scottish students received the results of their Higher exams last week, and the A-C attainment was 75.9% (up from 74.9% last year).

As well as A-level results, students will also receive T-level and BTec National results today.

We’ll have a fuller picture at 9.30am, so do follow along with us today for all the developments.