A-level results | Schools Week

A-level results 2020: Private schools see biggest boost in top grades

Top A-level grades have increased more at private schools than any other type of school and college this year. Analysis from exams regulator Ofqual found 48.6 per cent of private school pupils attained an A* or A this year – an increase of 4.7 percentage points. In comparison, secondary comprehensive schools saw an increase of […]

A-level results 2020: Top grades up by 2.4 percentage points, but 39.1 of grades downgraded

The proportion of top A-level grades handed to students in England has increased by 2.4 per cent this year. But headteachers have already warned of volatility among results at school and student level, after it was revealed that 39.1 per cent of centre-assessment grades were downgraded during the standardisation process. The exams regulator Ofqual has […]

A-level results 2020: ‘Enough is enough’ says heads’ union as it demands government review

The government must urgently review the system used to award A-level grades to pupils this year, the Association of School and College Leaders has said. ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said his organisation had received “heartbreaking feedback” from school leaders, who had seen grades pulled down “in a way that they feel to be utterly […]

A-level results 2020: 8 key trends in England’s data

A-level results are out! Here’s what we know… 1. Overall performance in England* The proportion of A* and A grades has risen this year by 2.4 percentage points to 27.6 per cent, the highest level in at least 13 years. The proportion of A* grades also rose, from 7.7 per cent last year to 8.9 per cent. […]

Sixth form colleges cry foul over standardisation as principals report problems with A-level results

The body representing sixth form colleges has demanded action after the vast majority of principals reported lower-than-expected A-level grades following this year’s moderation process. The Sixth Form Colleges Association fears its members have been disproportionately impacted by problems with the system which replaced exams this year, with almost half of principals reporting that overall, their […]

Scotland withdraws all downgraded exam grades

Scotland will withdraw around a quarter of standardised exam grades issued last week, in a move that raises questions for the UK government ahead of A-level and GCSE results days. In a major climbdown, John Swinney, the Scottish education minister, today announced that more than 124,000 centre-assessment grades that were downgraded during the standardisation process will […]

Hold places for appealing A-level students, minister tells universities

Universities should hold places for pupils who choose to appeal against their A-level grades, the government has said. In a further sign the government is gearing up for an outcry over standardised grades similar to that seen in Scotland last week, universities minister Michelle Donelan has written to university vice-chancellors to urge them to be […]