Jasmine Norden
@jasminenorden.bsky.social
Education correspondent at PA. Get in touch at jasmine.norden@pa.media
One we can particularly see this in is languages here
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
One we can particularly see this in is languages here
The gender gap also reached its narrowest point this century, though changes are small and girls remain ahead
- Girls saw a small drop in their proportion of grade 4s and above, while boys remained steady
- Boys saw a slight increase in top grades, while girls saw a tiny fall
- Girls saw a small drop in their proportion of grade 4s and above, while boys remained steady
- Boys saw a slight increase in top grades, while girls saw a tiny fall
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The gender gap also reached its narrowest point this century, though changes are small and girls remain ahead
- Girls saw a small drop in their proportion of grade 4s and above, while boys remained steady
- Boys saw a slight increase in top grades, while girls saw a tiny fall
- Girls saw a small drop in their proportion of grade 4s and above, while boys remained steady
- Boys saw a slight increase in top grades, while girls saw a tiny fall
In other news, there was a slight narrowing of the regional divide this year
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
In other news, there was a slight narrowing of the regional divide this year
And the graph here shows the trend for all entries in maths
➗For those aged 17+, pass rate fell slightly to 17.1% from 17.4%
➗For 16y/os, it barely changed - from 72% last year to 71.9%
➗For those aged 17+, pass rate fell slightly to 17.1% from 17.4%
➗For 16y/os, it barely changed - from 72% last year to 71.9%
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
And the graph here shows the trend for all entries in maths
➗For those aged 17+, pass rate fell slightly to 17.1% from 17.4%
➗For 16y/os, it barely changed - from 72% last year to 71.9%
➗For those aged 17+, pass rate fell slightly to 17.1% from 17.4%
➗For 16y/os, it barely changed - from 72% last year to 71.9%
These trends seem to be driven by the increase in the number of 17+y/os resitting, rather than a significant performance drop from an age group
📚 In English language, the pass rate stayed steady at 20.9% for 17+ y/os
📚For 16y/os, it fell slightly to 70.6% from 71.2% last year
📚 In English language, the pass rate stayed steady at 20.9% for 17+ y/os
📚For 16y/os, it fell slightly to 70.6% from 71.2% last year
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
These trends seem to be driven by the increase in the number of 17+y/os resitting, rather than a significant performance drop from an age group
📚 In English language, the pass rate stayed steady at 20.9% for 17+ y/os
📚For 16y/os, it fell slightly to 70.6% from 71.2% last year
📚 In English language, the pass rate stayed steady at 20.9% for 17+ y/os
📚For 16y/os, it fell slightly to 70.6% from 71.2% last year
Very small changes in overall grade proportions:
7️⃣ 21.8% of entries awarded grade 7 or above (21.7% last year)
4️⃣ 67.1% of entries awarded grade 4 or above (67.4% last year)
7️⃣ 21.8% of entries awarded grade 7 or above (21.7% last year)
4️⃣ 67.1% of entries awarded grade 4 or above (67.4% last year)
August 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Very small changes in overall grade proportions:
7️⃣ 21.8% of entries awarded grade 7 or above (21.7% last year)
4️⃣ 67.1% of entries awarded grade 4 or above (67.4% last year)
7️⃣ 21.8% of entries awarded grade 7 or above (21.7% last year)
4️⃣ 67.1% of entries awarded grade 4 or above (67.4% last year)
Maths and English literature both saw very small falls in those getting the top grades this year, despite the overall trend
August 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Maths and English literature both saw very small falls in those getting the top grades this year, despite the overall trend
The arts saw a strong performance this year, with art and design, music and drama all seeing a rise in top grades as well as a rise in those getting a C or above
🎨You can particularly observe the uptick in top grades here for art and design subjects:
🎨You can particularly observe the uptick in top grades here for art and design subjects:
August 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The arts saw a strong performance this year, with art and design, music and drama all seeing a rise in top grades as well as a rise in those getting a C or above
🎨You can particularly observe the uptick in top grades here for art and design subjects:
🎨You can particularly observe the uptick in top grades here for art and design subjects:
For the first time in years, boys overtook girls for the top grades, though there was only a difference of 0.4
Significantly more A-level entries still came from girls, and girls are were still more likely to get a C or above
Significantly more A-level entries still came from girls, and girls are were still more likely to get a C or above
August 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
For the first time in years, boys overtook girls for the top grades, though there was only a difference of 0.4
Significantly more A-level entries still came from girls, and girls are were still more likely to get a C or above
Significantly more A-level entries still came from girls, and girls are were still more likely to get a C or above
Others also highlighted the importance of action to tackle the regional divide
August 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Others also highlighted the importance of action to tackle the regional divide
A-level results have been released this morning - here are the key things to know about England's results 🧵
August 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
A-level results have been released this morning - here are the key things to know about England's results 🧵
Useful graphic here
May 15, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Useful graphic here
Adjustments were made in GCSE French, German and computer science, which resulted in higher pass rates and more top grades for all those subjects
August 22, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Adjustments were made in GCSE French, German and computer science, which resulted in higher pass rates and more top grades for all those subjects
The results also show a slight narrowing of the gender gap
➡️Grade 4 threshold: 70.8% of girls passed & 64.1% of boys
➡️Grade 7 threshold: 24.4% of girls achieved & 18.9% of boys
Both of these were slightly narrower than in 2023
➡️Grade 4 threshold: 70.8% of girls passed & 64.1% of boys
➡️Grade 7 threshold: 24.4% of girls achieved & 18.9% of boys
Both of these were slightly narrower than in 2023
August 22, 2024 at 3:20 PM
The results also show a slight narrowing of the gender gap
➡️Grade 4 threshold: 70.8% of girls passed & 64.1% of boys
➡️Grade 7 threshold: 24.4% of girls achieved & 18.9% of boys
Both of these were slightly narrower than in 2023
➡️Grade 4 threshold: 70.8% of girls passed & 64.1% of boys
➡️Grade 7 threshold: 24.4% of girls achieved & 18.9% of boys
Both of these were slightly narrower than in 2023
. @pepediiasio.bsky.social said: "Addressing these gaps must be a key priority for the new government working alongside the education sector.”
August 22, 2024 at 3:19 PM
. @pepediiasio.bsky.social said: "Addressing these gaps must be a key priority for the new government working alongside the education sector.”
This year has also seen the attainment gap between state and private schools grow.
Entries achieving top grades:
➡️48.4% in private schools
➡️21.2% in academies
➡️19.4% in secondary comprehensives
Entries achieving top grades:
➡️48.4% in private schools
➡️21.2% in academies
➡️19.4% in secondary comprehensives
August 22, 2024 at 3:18 PM
This year has also seen the attainment gap between state and private schools grow.
Entries achieving top grades:
➡️48.4% in private schools
➡️21.2% in academies
➡️19.4% in secondary comprehensives
Entries achieving top grades:
➡️48.4% in private schools
➡️21.2% in academies
➡️19.4% in secondary comprehensives
Many in the sector have called for resit reform - including NAHT gen sec Paul Whiteman who said the policy "must be scrapped".
"Those students who haven’t achieved the required grade are forced into repeated resits which are demotivating and can lead to disengagement with their learning."
"Those students who haven’t achieved the required grade are forced into repeated resits which are demotivating and can lead to disengagement with their learning."
August 22, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Many in the sector have called for resit reform - including NAHT gen sec Paul Whiteman who said the policy "must be scrapped".
"Those students who haven’t achieved the required grade are forced into repeated resits which are demotivating and can lead to disengagement with their learning."
"Those students who haven’t achieved the required grade are forced into repeated resits which are demotivating and can lead to disengagement with their learning."
Significantly, overall pass rates for English language and maths are down this year
English language: 61.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 64.2%)
Maths: 59.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 61%)
English language: 61.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 64.2%)
Maths: 59.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 61%)
August 22, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Significantly, overall pass rates for English language and maths are down this year
English language: 61.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 64.2%)
Maths: 59.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 61%)
English language: 61.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 64.2%)
Maths: 59.6% got grade 4 (⬇️from 61%)
➡️5% of entries got a grade 9, up from 4.9% last year
➡️21.7% got a grade 7 or above, up from 21.6% last year
➡️67.4% got a grade 4 or above, slightly down from 67.8% last year
➡️21.7% got a grade 7 or above, up from 21.6% last year
➡️67.4% got a grade 4 or above, slightly down from 67.8% last year
August 22, 2024 at 3:16 PM
➡️5% of entries got a grade 9, up from 4.9% last year
➡️21.7% got a grade 7 or above, up from 21.6% last year
➡️67.4% got a grade 4 or above, slightly down from 67.8% last year
➡️21.7% got a grade 7 or above, up from 21.6% last year
➡️67.4% got a grade 4 or above, slightly down from 67.8% last year
Heads have also been warning about the residual impact of Covid and the absence crisis on the attainment of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
August 21, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Heads have also been warning about the residual impact of Covid and the absence crisis on the attainment of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
English literature and language, however, both saw small falls in the proportion of A*/A grades achieved this year
August 15, 2024 at 3:43 PM
English literature and language, however, both saw small falls in the proportion of A*/A grades achieved this year
Top grades were up in maths, which remains the most popular A level with entries growing by more than 11% on last year
August 15, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Top grades were up in maths, which remains the most popular A level with entries growing by more than 11% on last year
And on the gender gap:
➡️Girls got slightly more A*/A grades (27.8% compared with 27.4% for boys)
➡️But boys got more A*s (9.5% compared with 9.1% for girls)
➡️Girls got slightly more A*/A grades (27.8% compared with 27.4% for boys)
➡️But boys got more A*s (9.5% compared with 9.1% for girls)
August 15, 2024 at 3:41 PM
And on the gender gap:
➡️Girls got slightly more A*/A grades (27.8% compared with 27.4% for boys)
➡️But boys got more A*s (9.5% compared with 9.1% for girls)
➡️Girls got slightly more A*/A grades (27.8% compared with 27.4% for boys)
➡️But boys got more A*s (9.5% compared with 9.1% for girls)
All regions saw some increase in the proportion of top grades achieved - but regional achievement gaps remain
August 15, 2024 at 3:38 PM
All regions saw some increase in the proportion of top grades achieved - but regional achievement gaps remain
You can see the full spread of results A*-C here:
August 15, 2024 at 3:37 PM
You can see the full spread of results A*-C here: