Essex students receive A-level results: "We're over the moon!"
A-level and T-level results are out today
Last updated 18th Aug 2022
A-level grades in the UK have been released today and while they are down on the past two years, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Hundreds of thousands of students across the UK, including thousands in Essex, are finding out their AS, A Level and T Level results today, having sat exams for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.
We went down to Southend High School for Girls (SHSG), where a steady stream of students nervously picked up their results.
Headteacher Jason Carey told us he was very pleased with the students' results, with many achieving high grades, and earning places at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge: "We're over the moon, the results are the best the school has had.
"The students and the staff have worked incredibly hard, especially considering that in year 11 they didn't have the opportunity to do GCSEs. They've been remarkable.
"We've got so many A* and A grades, really high grades all round with people getting in to their first choice universities. It's a really good day."
Elyce was one of the students who collected her results this morning from SHSG: "I'll be going to Oxford university to study Spanish and Linguistics. I got two A*s and two As and I feel amazing... very shaky but amazing.
"I've always wanted to go to Oxford since I was ten so this has been a long time in the making so I'm really glad it's paid off. All the hard work, late nights and food I stress ate are definitely worth it now!"
Helen Riebold, Head of SHSG's sixth form paid tribute to the students: "I'm so happy for every single one of them, particularly when you think they began their A-level journey in bubbles because of the pandemic without access to the same resources and facilities they would usually have done and they pulled it out of the bag anyway!"
Aria was another student collecting her results. When she spoke to GHR Essex, she was crying but insisted they were "happy tears": "I got good results and got into my first choice uni - the University of Manchester to study History!
"I slept about two hours last night and have been stressed all day, it's such a relief to get these results."
Head student Tess got three A*s: "I was so worried because I'd forgotten how the exams went but I'm so relieved now seeing the results - I cried, it was a bit embarrassing!"
She'll be going to Leeds university to study Philosophy and Linguistics but has other plans on her mind first: "I'll be going out for some drinks with my friends! We're going to celebrate - hard!"
Nationally
A-level grades had been expected to drop from 2021 levels – when pupils were assessed by their teachers – as part of a transition year which saw marks aiming to reflect a midway point between last year and 2019.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) said the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – fell by 1.1 percentage points from 99.5% in 2021 to 98.4% this year.
But this is up by 0.8 points from 97.6% in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Girls continued to outperform boys overall, with A* to E grades at 98.7% for the former, compared with 98.1% for the latter.
The number of A-level students in England who took three A-levels and achieved all A* grades is nearly three times what it was in 2019, rising to 8,570 compared with 2,785.
Second highest year for university places
UCAS, which handles admissions to universities, has revealed 426,000 people have been offered places this year - that's the second highest on record.
Only 2021 admissions beat that figure, with students being awarded grades from teacher assessments.
This year, 16,870 more pupils were accepted into higher education compared with 2019 - which was when in-person exams were last sat.
There's also been an increase on the number of students being accepted from the most disadvantaged backgrounds - with 3,770 more pupils being offered a place compared to 2019.
It means the gap between the most and least disadvantaged has narrowed from 2.36 in 2019 to 2.29 in 2022.
The Chief Executive of UCAS, Clare Marchant says "Congratulations to everyone who has worked incredibly hard and received their results today."
"Whilst many will be celebrating today, there will be some who are disappointed. My advice is to take advantage of the wide range of choices on offer, which includes over 27,000 courses in Clearing"
For the 20,360 who found out today they do not have a place, but are still keen to start an undergraduate course, pupils are being encouraged to go through the UCAS clearing process.
T Levels awarded for the first time
Around 1000 students have also received T Level results for the first time. T Levels are a new technical qualification to help young people progress onto skilled employment, university or apprenticeships.
It combines study with a substantial industry placement so that students gain the skills and valuable workplace experience they need to progress into a job, further study or an apprenticeship.
Education Secretary, James Cleverly said:
"Today is also a really exciting time for our pioneering T Level students, as the first ever group to take this qualification will pick up their results. I have no doubt they will be the first of many and embark on successful careers."