A-Level results LIVE: Top grades rise as 80% of teenagers secure first choice university spot

School leavers are receiving their A-level results in a year when young people had their education disrupted by the concrete crisis.

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving grades to help them progress on to university, an apprenticeship or employment.

The proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades is up on last year and remains above pre-pandemic levels, national figures show.

More than a quarter (27.8%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2% achieved the top grades.

This was also higher than in 2019 - the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic - when 25.4% of entries were awarded A or A* grades.

Just days before the academic year was due to start last year, a number of schools were forced to offer remote learning when reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in buildings.

Follow live updates on our dedicated live blog.

Live coverage ends

13:56 , Josh Salisbury

We are now ending our live coverage of A-Level results day, thank you for joining us.

For an overview of the day’s developments, please visit here.

Social mobility expert warns of 'stark' regional divide in top results

13:17 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Every region in England saw an increase in top A-level grades this summer, but there are warnings that stark divides in achievement remain.

There is still a “two-tier” system in A-level results, with students in London and the South East more likely to pick up the highest grades than their peers in other parts of the country, according to one social mobility expert.

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at Exeter University, said more must be done to create a level playing field to allow all teenagers to reach their potential, regardless of where they live.

London saw the highest proportion of entries awarded A and above, at 31.3%, up 1.3 percentage points from 30.0% in 2023.

The East Midlands had the lowest, at 22.5%, up 0.2 points from 22.3% in 2023.

The gap between these two regions was 8.8 percentage points, up from 7.7 points last year.

Prof Elliot Major told the PA news agency: “These results highlight the stark regional divides that characterise our education system.

“When it comes to A-level results, we effectively have a two-tier system: London and the South East versus the rest of the country.”

He added: “Of course these patterns reflect the differing levels of child poverty across the country, but we need to do more to understand the specific obstacles to education in different parts of the country.

“Our South West social mobility commission for example found that coastal and rural inequalities and lack of connectivity are particular problems in this region of the country.

“We must do better in creating a level playing field in which all teenagers can flourish academically, wherever they happen to come from.”

Mother's relief after son's top results despite Raac issues causing 'year from hell'

13:04 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The mother of a boy whose school building was largely closed due to substandard concrete is breathing “a big sigh of relief” after he received his A-level results after a “year from hell”.

Nicola Cook, 53, told how her son, an 18-year-old at school in Durham, achieved his results despite a year of disruption.

Students at the school were forced to undertake lessons remotely and in alternative venues after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in the school building.

Ms Cook’s son, who she did not want to name, was predicted three A*s, achieving those grades in psychology and media as well as an A in music.

“Overall, it’s a big, big sigh of relief,” she said.

She added the morning had been filled with “quite a lot of tears” among students at the school “because the anxiety has been so great”.

“He got that win on his absolute own merit, down to his resilience and his hard work and the exceptional hard work of the teachers in that school, and not down to any support from any government organisation or other external agency,” she said.

East London students celebrate BTEC and T-Level success

12:05 , Josh Salisbury

Students have been pictured celebrating their BTEC and T-level results at Barking & Dagenham College.

Amongst those celebrating their achievements was 18-year-old Grace Clucas from Newham who will now begin work at TfL.

Grace said she “loved” doing the engineering qualification.

“I would definitely recommend doing a T-level,” she said. “For me the mixture of work and study helped me decide whether an apprenticeship or university was best for me.”

London head boy to join Bloomberg after top grades

11:55 , Josh Salisbury

A London head boy has netted a prestigious job straight out of school after securing top grades.

18-year-old Andi Duka, of Ark Burlington Danes Academy in White City, will join Bloomberg after achieving A levels in Economics (C), History (B) and Maths (D).

Andi's parents moved to the UK as refugees, fleeing the war in Kosovo. He said: “I am very grateful for the support of my school and teachers. Being Head Boy at Ark Burlington Danes Academy has equipped me with leadership skills which will be crucial in my new position in September.

“I am delighted that I will be starting an apprenticeship with Bloomberg and look forward to the challenge ahead.”

London student made homeless by fire wins top uni place

11:36 , Josh Salisbury

A London student who was made homeless and lost her school work during a devastating fire on Christmas Eve has scored top grades in her A Levels.

Samira Hersi, from Hackney, was on Thursday celebrating an A in English Literature and Bs in Chemistry and DT which mean she has won a place to read Law at Warwick University.

The Excelsior Academy student said she faced significant challenges when all her course notes were destroyed in an electrical fire, which broke out at the family's ground floor flat.

Read more here.

Education Secretary joins celebrating teenagers

11:18 , Josh Salisbury

Jeremy Clarkson mocked for annual A-Levels day post

10:47 , Josh Salisbury

For the past decade, Jeremy Clarkson has made a habit of chiming in on A-Level results day, boasting about how his less-than-stellar grades haven’t held him back.

This annual tweet has become as much a part of results day as the nervous anticipation itself, with 2024 marking the 10th anniversary of his tradition - which he is now heavily mocked for.

He told fans: “I got a C and two Us, and here I am, 46 years later, with my own pub.”

But one social media user responded: ““Some things are certain in life; Taxes, Death, Jeremy Clarkson tweeting about his C and 2 Us every year a-level results day.”

Read more here.

Number of international students decrease

10:35 , Josh Salisbury

The number of international students who have been accepted on to courses stands at 51,170, down slightly on 51,210 last year.

Accepted applicants from China (10,950) are down 6% compared with last year, according to UCAS.

Private schools closing 'faced budget shortfalls'

10:22 , Josh Salisbury

Private schools facing closure following the Government's plan to impose VAT on fees were already seeing "big budget shortfalls", the Education Secretary has said.

Bridget Phillipson added that her focus is on state school education, which 93% of children in the UK attend, with the policy aiming to drive up standards in this area.

From January, the Government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.

The Association of School and College Leaders has warned some schools are likely to face closure as a result of the policy, and introducing the change during the middle of an academic year could cause additional disruption.

But Ms Phillipson said: "Private schools are businesses that can make choices about how they manage their budgets, the level of fees that they charge, and ultimately it's about how attractive they are to families in terms of the numbers of students that are sent there."

Most popular A-Level remains Maths

09:53 , Josh Salisbury

The most popular subject this year was maths, for the 11th year in a row. It had 107,427 entries, up 11% from 96,853 in 2023.

Psychology remains the second most popular subject. It had 78,556 entries, down 2% from 80,493 in 2023.

Biology was once again the third most popular subject, with 74,367 entries, a fall of 0.4% from 74,650.

Further maths saw the largest percentage increase in entries this year, up 20% from 15,080 in 2023 to 18,082 in 2024.

London sees highest percentage of top grades

09:46 , Josh Salisbury

London saw the highest proportion of entries awarded A and above, at 31.3%, up 1.3 percentage points from 30.0% in 2023.

Every region of England has seen a year-on-year increase in the proportion of A-level entries awarded A and above, the 2024 exam figures show.

All regions also saw a higher proportion of entries awarded A* or A this year than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Percentage of top A-Level grades rises

09:31

The proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades is up on last year and remains above pre-pandemic levels, national figures show.

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their exam results on Thursday in a year when grading was expected to be restored to 2019 levels in all three nations.

More than a quarter (27.8%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2% achieved the top grades.

This was also higher than in 2019 - the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic - when 25.4% of entries were awarded A or A* grades.

Overall, the proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has risen by 0.4 percentage points to 9.3%, compared with 8.9% in 2023, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7% in 2019.

Pictured: Teenagers celebrate A-level results

09:08 , Josh Salisbury

T-levels 'here to stay'

09:03 , Josh Salisbury

T-levels, the vocational alternative to A-levels, are "here to stay", Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: "T-levels are here to stay, but we need to make them work, and we need to make them work better than has been the case.

"But alongside that, we need to make sure that there are other routes for our young people.

"T-levels won't be the answer, won't be the solution for every young person that is considering a technical or vocational relief."

Phillipson hints against tuition fee rise

08:43 , Josh Salisbury

Raising university tuition fees would be "unpalatable", Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said.

Asked whether tuition fee caps would be increased in the next five years, she told Sky News: "I do recognise the challenge, and I hear that message from institutions as well, but I think that's a really unpalatable thing to be considering.

"Not least because I know that lots of students across the country are already facing big challenges around the cost of living, housing costs, lots of students I speak to who are already working lots of jobs, extra hours, in order to pay for their studies."

Some universities have warned of financial pressures if the income received from fees does not increase.

But Ms Phillipson added that the Government does intend to "reform the system overall".

'A-level results broadly same as last year', says Phillipson

08:24 , Josh Salisbury

A-level results are expected to be "broadly in line with last year", Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, as she revealed that she achieved four A grades in her own exams.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Phillipson said: "I had to overcome quite a lot of my life to get to that point, but it was a straightforward journey."

Ms Phillipson also said she was "really surprised" to hear that students with T-levels are not being accepted by some universities.

She added: "I think T-levels are an important part of our system. I think they provide really high quality options for young people around technical and vocational education."

Record numbers of disadvantaged students get uni places

08:22 , Josh Salisbury

The total number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen by 3% on the same point last year, with 425,680 taking up places so far.

UCAS data also shows a record number of free school meal pupils taking up university places.

A record 27,600 of UK 18-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have accepted a place, up 7% on 25,800 last year.

Dr Jo Saxton CBE, Chief Executive of UCAS, said: “Today’s figures highlight the tenacity and effort from students who have aimed high and are about to embark on their exciting next steps.

“I’m particularly thrilled to see free school meals students securing a place at university or college in record numbers.”

Prime Minister sends congratulations as students receive results

08:12 , Josh Salisbury

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sent his congratulations as students began to receive their results from 8am.

Congratulations to all students receiving their A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results,” he said.

“You’ve worked hard to get here, now nothing should hold you back from achieving your ambition.

“My government's mission will break down barriers to opportunity for young people across Britain.”

Students begin receiving application results

08:07 , Josh Salisbury

Students up and down the country are now receiving the results of their university applications, with the UCAS platform going live at 8am.

Phillipson: We won't change international student visa rules

08:00 , Josh Salisbury

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the Government does not intend to remove visa restrictions placed on international students by the previous Tory government.

In January, restrictions were introduced to prevent most international students bringing dependents with them to the UK.

Asked whether the visa restrictions should be reversed, Ms Phillipson told Sky News: "We don't intend to change that.

"But what I do say is that international students who come to our country and study do make a tremendous contribution.

"In economic terms, into where it comes to the communities where they will come and live: Sunderland - where I'm a Member of Parliament - we have lots of students that come from around the world, often as postgraduate students, that study and make a contribution.

Background 'shouldn't affect results', says Education Secretary

07:39 , Josh Salisbury

Where students are from should not impact what they can achieve, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, as she committed to closing the "big gaps" in university access across the UK.

Speaking to Sky News, she said: "I want all young people to be able to choose the path that's right for them. For many young people that will be university, for many young people that will be an apprenticeship, or going into the world of work.

"It's about having those range of options that are available. And I think, sadly, whatever the headline figure in terms of university applications, we do still see, sadly, very big differences between different parts of the country.

"So for example, you're far more likely to apply to university from London and the South East than you are from the North East, where I'm from. So it's not kind of a flat figure across the country. There are big gaps, big differences, and actually that they've been growing in recent years," the MP who represents Houghton and Sunderland South said.

'Plenty' of opportunities for students who miss grades

07:30 , Josh Salisbury

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there are "plenty of opportunities" for A-level students who fall short on results day.

She told Sky News: "To our young people receiving their results, there are lots of great options out there in terms of what you can go on to do next.

"For those young people who get what they need and move on to their destination of choice, that's brilliant.

"For those who perhaps fall slightly short, there are lots of options out there. There are lots of people that can be there to provide advice and support, whether that's the school or college, UCAS through clearing, or the National Career Service.

"So I want to wish them all the very best, but to reassure them that there are plenty of opportunities that are there."

Education Secretary congratulates youngsters on A-level results

07:09 , Josh Salisbury

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has congratulated students receiving their A-level results and said they can be "really proud of what they've achieved".

Speaking to Times Radio, she said: "I do just want to say a huge congratulations to all of those young people.

"They've been through an awful lot in recent years and they've shown tremendous resilience, and 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."

Students face 'less competition' for uni places this year

06:57 , Josh Salisbury

Students could face less competition for university places this year due a decline in the proportion of UK school leavers applying to higher education and a fall in overseas demand, education experts have suggested.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the day before A-level results day, 130 of the UK's largest higher education providers showed there were 22,774 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England on the Ucas clearing website.

A similar analysis last year, carried out the day before A-level results day, showed there were 22,521 courses with vacancies on the clearing site.

Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers.

Students who have changed their mind about what or where they wish to study, and also those who have applied outside the normal application window, can also use the process.

Differences between England, Scotland and Wales

06:21 , Tom Davidson

In England, exams regulator Ofqual has said it expects this summer’s national results to be “broadly similar” to last summer, when grades were brought back in line with pre-pandemic levels.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators are aiming to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer – a year later than in England.

The move to restore pre-pandemic standards comes after Covid-19 led to an increase in top A-level and GCSE grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.

Leaders in the education sector have warned that this cohort of young people has had to overcome a series of challenges in recent years – and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have been hit the worst.