A-level results: More disadvantaged students set for university than pre-Covid

It comes as hundreds of thousands of pupils receive their A-level grades

Students celebrate A-levels

Thousands more students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have been accepted onto university courses this year compared to the last time students sat A-level exams before the pandemic.

Around 46,800 of this group got the grades needed for their first or second choice university - a rise from 3,770 in 2019, according to Ucas.

“We’re encouraged to see early indications of a continued increase in the rate of disadvantaged students gaining places,” John Blake from the Office for Students said.

It came as hundreds of thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland found out their marks on A-level results day.

The overall pass rate and proportion of top marks awarded dropped compared to the year before, but is still higher than the last time students took exams.

This was expected under a crackdown on grade inflation that still took into account disruption suffered by this year’s cohort in the Covid pandemic.

Key Points

• ‘Continued increase’ in rate of disadvantaged students getting university places
• Students open results after weeks of waiting
• A-level results: Grades down on last two years but higher than pre-pandemic levels
• Second highest number of students get first or second choice at university
• Every single student collecting result today should be proud - education secretary

[18 August 2022 11:49 · Zoe Tidman]

Key statistics for A-level results 2022

There are a lot of statistics to dig into with this year’s A-level results. Take a look at them here:

[18 August 2022 12:00 · Zoe Tidman]

Students ‘happy’ with results after ‘challenging’ couple of years

Students have been speaking to Press Association as they opened their A-level results.

Rand El-Shebli, from Battersea in south London, is going on to study psychology at Queen Mary University of London after achieving ABB.

“I was expecting a bit better, but overall I’m happy because for those to be the first exams since SATs, it’s a big achievement and everyone should be proud regardless of what they got,” she said.

Rand El-Shebli is going on to study psychology after receiving her A-level results (PA)

“We’re the first year to never have sat GCSEs then go straight into A-levels. We did have some help but I feel like it’s not entirely fair but overall I think people did get what they deserved.”

Meanwhile Nagma Abdi, who arrived in the UK from Somalia as a refugee as a child, has secured her first choice of university, the London School of Economics, where she will study law.

“I feel very happy, I’ve worked very hard, and obviously with Covid it’s been quite challenging,” the Ark Putney Academy pupil said.

Nagma Abdi is one of the Ark Putney Academy pupils to receive their A-level results today (PA)

PA

[18 August 2022 12:17 · Zoe Tidman]

This year’s Jeremy Clarkson A-level results tweet

It wouldn’t be A-level results day without a tweet from Jeremy Clarkson reminding us what he achieved:

[18 August 2022 12:30 · Zoe Tidman]

Sheffield University says it received more than 550 calls shortly after cleaning lines opened

The University of Sheffield says it received around 550 calls in the first hour and a half of its clearing lines opening.

Dan Barcroft, its director of admissions, says: “Clearing is a competitive time this year, as has been the case for a number of years now, with students seeing it as an opportunity to reassess their options post-results, switch courses or trade up to another university which they had previously ruled out.”

[18 August 2022 12:48 · Zoe Tidman]

Minister offers words of advice to those disappointed by A-level results

The schools minister has spoken about how he was left disappointed by his own exam results.

Will Quince said he did not get into his first choice university but ended up having a “fantastic time” at another institution where he got a degree, made friends and met his wife.

Speaking at Ucas, he said: “I didn’t get the grades I wanted. I didn’t go to my first choice university. I ended up going to my reserve choice university.

“I had a fantastic time. I got a degree, I met my wife, I’ve got some fantastic friends that I’m still friends with now and I went on to become a solicitor, a Member of Parliament and now education minister.

“So it’s really important to stress - don’t panic if you don’t get the grades you need and want. It really is not the end of the world.”

Will Quince says he was disappointed on his own results day (Chris Jackson/PA) (PA Wire)

[18 August 2022 13:01 · Zoe Tidman]

A-level results day stories

Here are some other stories of people who were disappointed on results day:

[18 August 2022 13:18 · Zoe Tidman]

That’s all from us for today. Thanks for following and congratulations to all who received their A-level results.