It’s that time of year again. A-Level results are in, and with them comes a fresh wave of data about university admissions. ISE’s Stephen Isherwood unpicks the headlines.
While most students have plenty to celebrate with a strong set of results, regional inequalities persist and clearing looks set to be not really clearing at all.
Over 800,000 A-level results and another 250,000 vocational and technical results were released on 14 August. The three most popular A level subjects were mathematics (104,630 results issued), psychology (72,930 results issued), and biology (65,355 results issued).
The proportion of top A-level grades, A* or A, increased slightly to 28.3% from 27.8%. And boys slightly outperformed girls at A-level for the first time since 2018 with 28.4% awarded an A* or A – compared to 28.2% for girls.
These strong results led to more 18-year-olds accepted at their first choice of university – 193,510, up from 184,400 in 2024. And more 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds were accepted into higher education, up from 19.8% in 2024 to 20.4%.
STEM subjects gain
More students than ever are taking A-Levels in maths, physics, and chemistry. Not only are these subjects seeing record enrolment, but more students are also achieving grade C or above.
These young people are laying the academic foundations for careers in engineering, data science, healthcare, and beyond.
The uptick in STEM achievement suggests that efforts to promote science and technology subjects in school are paying off, and it bodes well for sectors that are hungry for skilled talent.
The challenge is that places on courses that cost a lot to deliver are not increasing to meet demand. Engineering places have stagnated at 2019 levels despite a 14% increase in course applications.
More pass T-Levels
T-Level participation rates are still low but are on the increase. Nearly 12,000 students received T-Level results this year, up from just over 7,000 in 2024.
These vocational qualifications are designed to bridge the gap between school and the workplace, offering a more hands-on route into industries like digital, construction, and healthcare.
Regional inequalities persist
The North East remains the only region where attainment at grade C and above is still below pre-pandemic levels. And when it comes to university admissions, the gap between regions is widening.
On results day, 43.4% of 18-year-olds from London secured a university place, compared to just 24.9% from the North East. That’s an 18.5 percentage point gap - the highest on record.
Clearing: Time for a rethink?
This year 82% got into their firm university choice, but that doesn’t mean they will stick with it. Clearing, originally designed to help students who missed their grades find a university place, is increasingly being used by students who are rethinking their choices post-results. Some are upgrading, deferring, or switching courses entirely.
In 2024, 74,000 students found their place through clearing - up from 68,000 in 2023. Yet only a quarter used it in the traditional way. That suggests the system is being stretched beyond its original purpose, and it may be time to consider a more flexible, student-centred approach.
The pressure to make life-changing decisions in a matter of hours feels out of step with the gravity of the moment. Is this another process we stick with because it sort of works, yet is inefficient and seen as too difficult to change?