Exam results show top grades rising but regional gaps widen
Thousands of students across the UK received A-level, GCSE and Scottish results, with top grades up but persistent regional disparities and resit concerns.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Results day unfolded across the UK this week as students in Scotland received their National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results, while pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland collected A-levels, GCSEs and vocational qualifications.
In Scotland, a record 79% of 15- and 16-year-olds passed at National 5, with pass rates also up for Highers and Advanced Highers. Around 150,000 students received their results. For the first time, the results were awarded by Qualifications Scotland, the new body that replaced the scandal-hit SQA.
Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, A-level top grades rose for the third consecutive year. Some 28.5% of entries were awarded A* or A, up from 28.3% last year. A record number of 18-year-olds secured university places, with 262,820 accepted onto degree courses so far, a 3% increase on last year.
But the regional gap in top A-level grades reached a record high. In London, 32% of entries were A* or A, compared with 23% in the North East of England and the East Midlands, the largest percentage point gap since the current grading system began in 2010.
Vocational qualifications also saw a surge. Almost 20,000 young people gained T-levels, a 65% increase on last year. The government is pushing to raise the status of technical education, with the Prime Minister saying that vocational routes should be valued as highly as academic ones.
GCSE results released later in the week showed a stable overall pass rate of 67% at grade 4 or C and above. Girls continued to outperform boys, but the gap narrowed to its tightest margin this century. London again led the way with 28.6% of pupils achieving grade 7 or above, against just 17.7% in the North East.
A persistent problem is the resit cycle for English and maths. Almost 30% of 16-year-olds failed to achieve a standard pass (grade 4) in these subjects, and among 17-year-olds resitting, only 21% passed English language and 16.4% passed maths. The Education Secretary described this as a 'treadmill of failure' and announced plans for a 'stepping stone' qualification to give students a more gradual route to the skills they need.
Apprenticeships and vocational training are becoming an increasingly popular option. Around half of school leavers at some colleges are choosing apprenticeships over university. Students cited the opportunity to earn while learning and avoid student debt as key factors.
While many students celebrated, the attainment gap between the richest and poorest areas remains a concern. The Scottish government has narrowed the gap at Higher level but it still stands at 15.9 percentage points. Ministers across the UK are under pressure to show that exam improvements benefit all students, not just those in well-off areas.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-level entries awarded A or A* rose for a third consecutive year, reaching 28.5%, up from 28.3%, the highest proportion on record outside pandemic-affected years. | · | · | ||||
| The gender gap in GCSE results narrowed to its smallest this century. | · | · | ||||
| The regional gap in top A-level grades reached a record high, with London at 32% and the North East and East Midlands at 23%. | · | · | ||||
| A record 79% of 15 and 16-year-olds passed National 5 qualifications. | · | · | · | |||
| Pass rates increased for Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications. | · | · | · | |||
| The attainment gap at Higher level is 15.9 percentage points. | · | · | · | |||
| The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades rose compared with last year. | · | · | · | |||
| The Scottish attainment gap narrowed but did not close. | · | · | · | |||
| A record 262,820 UK 18-year-olds were accepted onto degree courses, a 3% increase on the same point last year. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Almost 20,000 young people gained T level qualifications, a 65% increase on last year. | · | · | · | · | ||
| London had the highest GCSE pass rate at almost 72%, while the West Midlands had the lowest at around 62%. | · | · | · | · | ||
| The overall GCSE pass rate was stable at 67% of grades at grade 4 or C and above. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel focused on Scottish results at the top of the bulletin, highlighting the record pass rates. It also briefly mentioned a report on breast cancer screening before pivoting to the education story. The tone was factual and concise, with no in-depth analysis of regional gaps.
- “A record 79% of 15 and 16-year-olds have passed at National 5, with pass rates up for higher and Advanced Higher qualifications as well.”
- “That's all from me, Dan's here at 5, next it's the weather.”
This channel provided a more detailed report on Scottish results, including interviews with pupils and the headteacher. It stressed the record number of 17- and 18-year-olds getting into university and the positive atmosphere, while also acknowledging that not everyone succeeds. It mentioned the attainment gap but did not go into depth.
- “I'm speechless, like, I don't even know, I worked so hard and I feel so good that I've achieved, I've achieved more than I ever thought I could.”
- “But the head teacher here knows that not everyone gets the grades they hoped for.”
- “The pass rate for National 5 was 79.2%, up by 0.8 percentage points, while the higher pass rate was 76.7%, also an increase of 0.8 percentage points.”
This channel covered A-level results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a focus on student reactions and the regional gap. It also included a discussion with journalist Steph McGovern about snobbery towards vocational qualifications. The tone was upbeat but highlighted the cost of university and the shift towards apprenticeships.
- “Around a third of 18-year-olds are heading off to university in the autumn and rising costs mean many are already thinking about the jobs they want.”
- “I think nationally this year about a third are planning to live at home.”
- “There is not the parity of esteem that there should be.”
This BBC signed bulletin covered both Scottish and A-level results. It gave time to the attainment gap, quoting the Scottish Education Secretary defending the trajectory. The tone was balanced, showing celebration but also acknowledging the gap has narrowed but not closed.
- “In the intervening period of that decade, we have had probably the most disruptive educational as well as societal event that any of us will have lived through in the COVID-19 pandemic”
- “But last year's exam results demonstrated a closing of the attainment gap. This year's exam results build on that. I believe we're on a good trajectory.”
This channel focused on A-level results day from the perspective of students in England. It highlighted the cost of university and the rise of degree apprenticeships as an alternative. The report included interviews with students and university staff, and noted that around 40% of 18-year-olds apply to university.
- “With the cost of university and then the living cost as well, it's definitely something people struggle with at my age”
- “I think that sort of financial security that comes with a degree apprenticeship is a fantastic offer that I wouldn't want to turn down”
Sky News provided live coverage from schools in London and Leeds, showing student reactions and discussing the rise in top grades. It also highlighted the impact of visa rule changes on international student numbers. The tone was celebratory but included analysis of financial pressures on universities.
- “I got an A star in three A's. Oh my goodness, that is fantastic!”
- “Initial UCAS figures show the total number of UK 18 year olds accepted onto degree courses risen by 3% on the same point last year.”
- “Tightening of visa rules by the Home Office this year could see a drop of up to 10% in numbers of new international students.”
This regional ITV bulletin focused on A-level results in the West Country, highlighting the wide variation in top grades across the region (48% in Cheltenham, 28% in Bristol, 14% in Swindon). It emphasised the rise in apprenticeships and featured interviews with students and a local MP who noted that university is not the only route.
- “Forty-eight per cent of students in Cheltenham got an A or an A-star in Bristol. It was 28 per cent of students, and in Swindon it was 14 per cent.”
- “I was talking to this 18-year-old when he told me how much he was starting on. I was like, wow, you know, I know graduates that would be more than happy with that”
Channel 4's coverage was analytical, focusing on the widening regional and gender gaps in A-level results. It noted that boys outperformed girls for the second year in a row, reversing a trend. It also highlighted a 10% rise in political studies entries. The report included a segment on young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) and a government scheme using AI training.
- “Look a little closer though, and the attainment gap between London and the other regions is widening.”
- “In recent years, generally, girls have done better than boys, but that trend seems to be reversing, with boys outperforming girls for the second year in a row”
- “There's actually been a rise of more than 10% in entries for political studies at A-level”
This BBC bulletin covered GCSE results, emphasising the stable pass rate and the narrowing gender gap. It reported on the regional disparity with London highest and West Midlands lowest. The tone was straightforward, with a focus on the resit problem and the government's stepping stone plan. It also included a segment on vocational education.
- “Just over two-thirds of GCSE students achieved a pass in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a return to pre-pandemic levels”
- “Across England the pass rates for maths and English resits are down, but here in Sandwell, they're much higher.”
This lunchtime bulletin covered GCSE results with a focus on the regional divide and the resit failure rate. It interviewed a headteacher who highlighted the shortage of specialist teachers in English and maths. The tone was concerned, particularly about the demotivating cycle of resits. It also mentioned quadruplets celebrating results.
- “The regional divide in grades has widened, with London well ahead of the North of England.”
- “Whilst poverty, attendance and confidence have an impact, I think we've got to also realise the shortage of specialist teachers, particularly in English and maths”
This evening BBC bulletin led with the return of Prince Harry, but also covered GCSE results with Branwen Jeffreys reporting from West Bromwich. It highlighted the stable pass rate, gender gap closing, and the regional disparity. It also focused on the resit issue and the government's stepping stone qualification plan, with a positive tone about the approach in Sandwell.
- “Results days are full of anxiety and surprises”
- “My whole time that I was here I've got threes, just straight threes. And for me to get a 4, it's such a big accomplishment for me because I never thought it would be possible.”
ITV's evening bulletin on GCSE results emphasised the record regional divide and the low resit pass rates. It featured an interview with the Education Secretary who defended the stepping stone plan. The tone was critical of the resit treadmill and highlighted the government's desire to reform vocational education.
- “Overall, the gap between boys and girls has narrowed, but there's a record difference between the best and worst performing regions.”
- “We need to find pathways that bring those top graduates into education.”
ITV's News at Ten repeated the GCSE results story with a similar emphasis on regional disparities and resit failures. It also included the quadruplets story and mentioned that 1,800 applications for 15 apprenticeship places shows employer barriers. The tone was sober, highlighting the challenges ahead for the government.
- “The regional divide in grades has widened, with London well ahead of the north of England.”
- “I think the government's proposal for the new partial qualification first the Stepping Stone is really good”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.