Record A-level passes at private schools

More than 40,000 pupils have received a sweep of top marks in their A-levels this year, and a third of them have studied at independent schools. Also, more than 50 per cent of A-levels taken at independent schools have been awarded an A grade.

Again, independent schools dominate The Times A-level league tables for 2009. Royal Grammar School Guildford comes top with 97.9 per cent achieving grade A or B, closely followed by Magdalen College School, Oxford, and King's College School, Merton. Seven out of the 10 top schools in the league are independent.   

Celebrations have been taking place at independent schools across the country today. Brighton College today announced that its pupils have acheived 95 per cent A and B grades. Headteacher Richard Cairns comments: "What is so fantastic is that the pupils achieved this in addition to playing sport, singing in the choir, painting in the art room and doing what other typical teenagers do.

"I'm especially pleased that despite the efforts of universities to get involved in social engineering, most of our pupils will go up to the university of their choice, including 18 to Oxbridge. It's high time pupils were treated according to their ability and their potential, rather than what their parents do for a living."

King Edward's School, an independent in Bath, is celebrating its best ever results, with a 100 per cent pass rate. Around 91 per cent of entries have been graded A or B, with the highest ever A grade rate of 62 per cent. 

The proportion of pupils given top marks at both state and independent schools has risen for the 27th year running, and the pass rate for A-levels is now nudging 100 per cent, which will inevitably lead to renewed claims of grade inflation. Record numbers of students have been awarded one of the top three grades, with more than three-quarters of all grades awarded at least a C for the first time.

Initiatives to introduce the A* at A-level as a clearer delineation of excellence have been met with hesitation from some universities, which have expressed concerns that such a grade will become over-used. Many independent schools are looking at phasing in the International Baccalaureate or the Pre-U, which some experts believe to offer a tougher challenge to students.

Clearing crush

This year promises to be more challenging than ever for those pupils who have not got the grades they needed for university, with the recession prompting a huge increase in demand for places (as reported on by Tom-Brown.com).

Experts are predicting that 40,000 potential candidates will miss out on places at university this year. Also, the number of places available through clearing this year has plummeted by around two thirds at some of the top universities, while others are stating that they have no places available at all.

Already, university admissions officers are saying that clearing day has never been so busy and that they have been inundated with calls and applications.

If you would like more information on how to cope with clearing, read our article Top tips to conquer clearing, and our case study of student Saskia Duff, who turned clearing to her advantage.