One in 10 students in Wales receive A* grades

ONE in 10 A-level students in Wales has received A* grades this year, as teenagers collected results based on coursework, AS-levels and teacher assessment.

Many young people just received an email yesterday morning although some schools were holding sociallydistanced results days so their pupils could still collect their grades the traditional way.

The A-level results are “broadly similar” to previous years but are not the final results after an outcry over the “unfair system” for grading prompted an 11th-hour Welsh Government review when students were promised their final grades would not be less than their AS results.

Exam board WJEC and regulator Qualifications Wales have published results based on the pre-review data controversially arrived at looking at measures including teachers’ assessments and past performace of pupils and schools after exams were cancelled by Covid-19.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced on Wednesday evening that no learner will receive an A-level grade less than the AS grades already awarded to them.

If a student received a final grade yesterday that is below that of their previous AS grade, then a revised grade will be issued automatically by exam board the WJEC.

The Welsh Government was forced to backtrack on the grading method agreed with regulator Qualifications Wales after an outcry over students being downgraded led to a U-turn in Scotland and changes in England.

The overall pass rate for all students at all grades A* to E in Wales was 98%.

Boys continue to outperform girls at the top grade A*, 0.8 percentage points ahead.

At other grades girls continued to outperform boys, with 99.0% gaining A*- E grades, compared to 98.2% of boys,

Education Minister Kirsty Williams. pictured right, told students: “Due to the many changes we’ve had to make this year in exceptional circumstances, you’ve had to make many sacrifices.

“But you have every reason to be proud of all the work you’ve done, which will serve you well, and proud of the determination you have shown to overcome this challenging time.

“As announced yesterday, we have guaranteed that a learner’s final A-level grade cannot be lower than their AS grade. Students in Wales, and prospective employers and universities across the UK, can be assured that their A-level grades reflect their work and externally assessed exams.

“I hope you get the grades you’d hoped for, and you can continue with your educational journey in the autumn. Although many of you will be pleased with your results and excited for your next step, if you didn’t get what you’d hoped, there’s plenty of options and advice on Working Wales.

“Best of luck, and best wishes for the future.”

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Education, Suzy Davies MS, congratulated pupils on picking up their A-level results, saying: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our pupils on receiving their grades today. I hope your results support your chosen path, be that to university, apprenticeships or the world of work. In these unprecedented times, it is welcoming to note a rise – albeit small at 2.9% – in the A – A* achievements from last year, with a 1% rise of A*-E grade achievements at A-level from the year before. But moving forward no stone can be left unturned by the Welsh Government in allowing pupils to secure top grades.

“Not all of our pupils who have obtained their A-levels today will go to university so it is crucial that more opportunities are available, including more degree apprenticeships.

“But, once again, I would like to wish pupils all the best for the future.

“Seek out those other routes to excellence: The world can still be your oyster.”