Just 24 students gain from regrading of A-levels

Only 24 young people have switched courses or gained a new university place from the inquiry into the A-level fiasco.

Six weeks ago, there were fears 90,000 candidates could have their results upgraded.

Tony Higgins, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), said last night the figure demonstrated that the affair – which contributed to Estelle Morris's decision to resign as Secretary of State for Education – was a storm in a teacup. Figures from Ucas show that 16 students negotiated a switch of courses after obtaining new results.

Of these, 12 will start at a new university next autumn. Four switched this term – three to a new university and one to a new course at the same institution. Eight students who failed initially to gain a university place have won places for next autumn.

The figures have led to questions over whether the furore deserved to claim the former chairman of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Sir William Stubbs, and Ms Morris as victims. Some also believe the independent schools who raised fears over the marking were exaggerating the problems.

Mr Higgins said Ucas's concern was over students "who may have been worrying needlessly. What saddens me is firstly the effect on the kids, and secondly we have lost an education secretary who cared most passionately about education – and one of the best administrators the education system has known. Both were really good at their job," he said.

The number of students switching is far lower than had been feared at one time.

Because of the independent inquiry into the affair by Mike Tomlinson, a former chief schools inspector, more than 90,000 candidates had their A-level results checked. Nearly 2,000 A and AS-level students had a unit of their exam upgraded. In about 170 cases, this was enough to lead to the overall result being upgraded.

The figures mean that up to 150 youngsters who achieved better grades have either decided to stick with the course they started or have taken a gap year and decided not to worry about their place until later.