Regional Disparities in A-level Grades Persist
- Girls maintain a slight lead over boys in A-level grades in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Significant regional disparities exist in A-level grades, particularly between north and south England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
- Despite improvements, boys still receive more top grades compared to girls.
The gender gap in A-level results in Britain is narrowing, with boys regaining a slight edge over girls in top grades. Last year, girls led boys by 0.6 percentage points, but recent data shows boys have reclaimed a 0.3-point lead. Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, welcomed the narrowing gap but emphasized the need to address the educational challenges faced by white working-class boys, who continue to lag behind other groups. National figures indicate an overall increase in top A-level grades, with 27.8% of entries awarded A or A*, surpassing both last year's results and pre-pandemic levels. The proportion of A* grades has also risen to 9.3%, marking the highest level since the grade was introduced in 2010. This year's cohort faced unique challenges, having been in Year 9 when schools closed due to COVID-19, and they were the first to sit GCSE exams after cancellations. Despite the overall improvement, disparities persist between regions, particularly between northern and southern England, as well as between private and state schools. In Northern Ireland and Wales, results fell compared to last year, although they remained higher than in 2019. London recorded the highest proportion of top grades at 31.3%, while the north-east saw a modest increase, closing the gap slightly. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in the popularity of mathematics, with entries exceeding 100,000 for the first time. This growth reflects a shift in educational policy, highlighting the increasing importance of STEM subjects in the current academic landscape.