Late A-level entries drop to lowest rate in a decade

The proportion of A-level and AS-level entries made late by schools has dropped to the lowest level in at least a decade.

Ofqual statistics released today show just 2 per cent of A and AS-level entries were made late in 2018-19, down from 2.7 per cent in 2017-18 and 2.3 per cent in 2016-17.

Apart from last year’s rise, the rate of late entries at A-level has been falling since 2011-12, when 4 per cent of entries were late. In 2008-09, more than 6 per cent were late.

At GCSE, 3.5 per cent of entries were late last year, down from 4.2 per cent the year before, but up from the 3.3 per cent rate seen in 2016-17.

Schools entering pupils late to GCSE and A-level exams incur hefty extra fees. In 2017, we revealed how schools had saved more than £1 million in late fees by reducing late entries.