Concerns over grade inflation as A-level results revealed

Hundreds of thousands of young people are receiving their exam results this morning – with higher-than-average A-level, BTec and Scottish highers grades expected across the country.

The latest official figures show that there has been a sharp increase in the top grades awarded at A-level – with As and A*s increasing 6.3 percentage points to 44.8 per cent from 38.5 per cent last year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The sharp rise in top grades means that the proportion getting top A* and A grades has risen by almost 75 per cent since the last time conventional exams were taken in 2019.

The pass rate for Scottish school qualifications dropped slightly this year – but scores were still well above pre-pandemic levels.

The percentage of pupils achieving A to C grades in their Highers fell from 89.3 per cent in 2020 to 87.3 per cent in 2021. But that total is still significantly above the 75 per cent pass rate from 2019, and a record high number of awards overall.

BTec students will get their results today and on Thursday.

Critics say the teacher-assessed grading system, which was put in place after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row, has devalued exams and created grade inflation. There are also concerns that children at privileged schools are more likely to have the support and resources to appeal their grades.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said: “There’s likely to be grade inflation. The government has got to make sure the appeals system is fair and easy to engage in and not just accessible to those with barristers for parents.”

But Gavin Williamson, England’s Education Secretary, defended the system, insisting that debate about how this year’s grades have been awarded should not “undermine or question the value” of students’ results.

He said: “Students have worked very hard in what has been an extraordinary and challenging year, and each and every one of them should feel incredibly proud of their achievements. We should all celebrate their resilience and ability to overcome adversity.”

Schools could use a range of evidence for grades, including “mini-exams”, coursework and mock exams to determine grades – with one in five schools having a sample of their grades checked by exam boards.

Several education leaders have also thrown their weight behind the teacher-assessed grades.

Geoff Barton, head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that comparing this year’s results with previous years’ was like “comparing apples with oranges”.

He said: “This cohort of students has suffered more educational disruption than any cohort since the Second World War.”

The higher-than-average results are expected to trigger a scramble for university places. The number of students with a live Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) application who do not currently hold a place is understood to be 20 per cent higher than on results day last year, meaning many will be hoping to secure a spot in the clearing process in the coming days.