A-level results 2017: Stories from secondary moderns

A-level results day is here! As usual, we will be celebrating everyone’s successes, but with a particular interest in secondary modern pupils.

There are close to 300 schools in England that fall into the category of secondary moderns – non-selective schools that recruit from the same neighbourhood as a grammar school – according to education think tank Datalab. Of these, around 90 have sixth forms and teach A-levels.

To find out more about why we report exclusively on secondary moderns on results day – as well as what to expect in the general analysis of A-level results this year – read our editor Laura McInerney’s column, where she explains our approach.

If you fit the above description, and want to share your school’s success stories, email samantha.king@lsect.com, call Samantha on 020 3432 1396 or find her on Twitter at @KingSamantha_

Results are out at 9.30am and stories will be coming in throughout the day. Get in touch with yours!

09.00 – The big day is here! Stay tuned for our analysis of trends and stats from 9.30, and success stories coming in throughout the day.

09.30 – Results are now out. Here’s our breakdown of the trends and stats from the national data.

09.35 – Did you know top grades have risen for the first time in seven years?

09.45 – Uh oh… it’s bad news for the 13 new, reformed A-levels, with pupils less likely to have received the top grades. In case you’re wondering, the reformed subjects are: art and design, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, economics, English language, English language and literature, English literature, history, physics, psychology and sociology.

10.30 – If you like data, we have a lot of it. We’re publishing individual A-level subject tables for the UK with year-on-year comparisons, and you can find them all right here.

11.00 – A secondary modern in Essex is celebrating its best A-level results on record, with one student going on to study at Oxford University and another taking up an apprenticeship with Deloitte. Read more here.

12.00 – Let’s hear it for the boys! It is the first time in 20 years that boys have received more top A-level grades than girls, with more than one in four boys in England receiving an A* or A grade.

13.00 – A student who turned down a grammar school sixth-form place to continue studying at his local secondary modern has secured an A* and two A grades at A-level. Read the full story here…

14.00 – Congratulations to Accrington Academy, who are today celebrating their first-ever student to secure an Oxbridge place.

This is what hard work looks like!! #hardworkpaysoff #resultsday @UnitedLearning @AA6th pic.twitter.com/ZM1lPCMJ7R

— Accrington Academy (@acc_academy) August 17, 2017

14.15 –There has been a fall in top grades for science A-levels this year, with the proportion of A* and A grades awarded to 18-year-olds in England dropping 2.3 percentage points in biology, 2 points in chemistry and 1.6 points in physics.

Biology, chemistry and physics were among the 13 A-level subjects reformed this year, in which optional first year exams were removed from counting towards the final grades.

14.30 – Great news from Magna Academy #gosecondarymoderns

@SchoolsWeek Proud secondary modern. Thrilled that 42% of all A Level and BTEC Level 3 entries @MagnaAcademy were A*-B or equivalent.

— Magna Academy Poole (@MagnaAcademy) August 17, 2017

15.30 – It’s a thumbs up from Amersham School’s sixth-form!

Headteacher Sharon Jarrett said: “We pride ourselves in securing the best possible results for each student, regardless of their starting point. I am proud of all my wonderful students – they are awesome!”

16.00 – A student diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during her second year of college has today proved that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Read her story here.

16.40 – Two friends who met in year 7 have secured the grades they need to go to university. The same one of course. Click here to read on.

17.10 – In case you missed any key A-level info whilst immersing yourself in secondary modern success stories, you can find a handy round-up of today’s biggest stories right here.

17.30 – And that’s a wrap! I think we’re all ready to follow in the footsteps of this student…

Some student celebrating A-levels the only way he should live on @GMB #GMB #alevelresultsday #swig pic.twitter.com/F3OzeXmwvp

— David Filipe (@david_filipe) August 17, 2017