A* grades for private pupils hit record low
... but they still beat State students in new tough exams
PRIVATE schools have suffered a record dip in the highest grades at A-level as the gap between the independent sector and other schools narrows.
Figures released today by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) suggest a smaller proportion of private school entries are gaining A* grades than when the grade was introduced six years ago.
The change is in line with a national downward trend across all sectors following government reforms aimed at tackling grade inflation and ‘dumbing down’ of qualifications.
Private schools continue to outperform other schools by a long way, but there is evidence the gap may be getting slightly smaller.
Ralph Lucas, editor-in- chief of the Good Schools Guide, said: ‘There is a change there. It’s very difficult to know what this might be due to. It could be that state schools are doing better. We’ve had a period of political consistency in terms of determination that schools should do better.
‘You can look at quite radical heads and see they are interested in discipline, they’re interested in their kids doing well and going into good careers. They are looking at ways of lengthening the school day and broadening what’s around.’
Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, said yesterday the dip in top results for private schools was no reflection on standards.
He said increasing numbers of their brighter pupils are now transferring to alternative qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate, meaning fewer top-achievers are taking A-levels.
Mr Lenon added he was encouraged that amid the efforts to halt grade inflation the A* and A figures ‘remain solid’.
The proportion of entries by privately-educated pupils achieving A* has dropped to 17.9 per cent – down from 18.5 per cent last year and the lowest level since 2010, when the A* grade was introduced.
The proportion getting A and A* grades at private schools is also the lowest in six years – 48.7 per cent compared with 49.3 per cent last year and 52 per cent in 2010.
And while private schools still outperform national results by a long way, the gap is the narrowest it has been in terms of top grades.
In 2010, 18.2 per cent of private school entries achieved A* – compared with 8.1 per cent of entries from all schools – including state and private. This represents a gap of 10.1
‘Effort to halt grade inflation’
percentage points. That same year, 52 per cent of private school entries achieved A* and A grades, compared with 27 per cent nationally – a gap of 25 percentage points. This year, the gap at A* is 9.8 points and the gap at A* and A is 22.9 points.
The changes follow action by Ofqual to combat grade inflation by setting grade boundaries to ensure the proportion receiving each grade is similar each year. Experts say this intervention by the watchdog means any changes to grades in each sector are difficult to interpret.
The ISC figures, based on data from 495 independent schools, also show that 6.8 per cent of private school candidates got at least three A* grades, down slightly from 7 per cent the previous year.