Top A-level results hit record high despite efforts to curb grade inflation

Results show ‘tremendous resilience’, says Phillipson

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, congratulated this year’s A-level pupils for showing “tremendous resilience”.

“They’ve been through an awful lot in recent years,” she told Times Radio. “They’ve had fantastic support from the staff and teachers within their schools and colleges, and it’s a big and exciting day for them.”

State high schools were the only school type to see a decline in A* and A grades, dropping from 19.3 per cent to 17.2 per cent between 2023 and 2024.

While every other school type improved compared to 2019, the share of top grades for state high schools was below pre-pandemic levels.

It comes as the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2 per cent across England, Wales and Northern Ireland this year. It marks a slight dip from 97.3 per cent in 2023 and 97.6 per cent in 2018.

Jill Duffy, chairwoman of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said: “With A-level grades similar to last year, Gen Z students and their teachers will see some much-needed continuity and stability after the disruptions of the pandemic.

“Whether going to university or into training or straight into a career, their qualifications help them move on to their next stage, and we wish them every success in the future.”

The overall boost in top grades comes as A-level pupils will have more choice of university places than in any recent year.

A record number of pupils are also expected to use the clearing system to “trade up” their university offers, and many Russell Group institutions have saved space for high-performing students.

Top universities reported receiving hundreds of phone calls this morning as top-performing pupils tried to cut a better university deal.

Jo Saxton, the head of Ucas, told The Telegraph earlier this week that “some of the most selective institutions have talked to me about recognising [students using clearing] and wanting to keep that option open for students”.

The University of Sheffield said that almost 550 high-achieving pupils had called up so far this morning after receiving their A-level results.

The most popular enquiries for students looking to trade up were for courses in economics and management, though there was interest across the board including for humanities and sciences.

Dan Barcroft, director of admissions at Sheffield, said: “Competition for clearing places remains fierce, especially for popular courses at top universities, with many students reassessing their options post-results and using clearing to ‘shop around’ and find the best university for them.

“At Sheffield, we have some places available through clearing for high-achieving students and we guarantee accommodation to everyone who accepts an offer by the end of August, to help ease the stress of results day.”

Scotland has a different qualification system and students received their results last week.