| Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales | | | | "There are more university places than ever before |
| and Northern Ireland received their A-levels and | | | | and already 380,000 applicants have got confirmed |
| AS-levels results on Thursday. More university places | | | | places at university. For those who have sadly not |
| are on offer this year, but the numbers are capped | | | | done as well they hoped, there are places available in |
| and universities face fines if they breach these limits. | | | | clearing. |
| The new A* grade was introduced this year to help | | | | "Of course, university is not the only route into |
| universities differentiate between the very best | | | | well-paid and fulfilling work. That is why we are also |
| candidates. | | | | investing so much in Further Education and 50,000 |
| To get the new grade, a student has to score an A | | | | extra high-quality apprenticeships." |
| overall, plus at least 90% in each paper in the second | | | | Some may accuse Willetts of having his head in the |
| year of the course. Yesterday, we reported that | | | | sand. We have heard stories of students with three |
| about 8% of all students' papers have been given an | | | | A* grades without any offers of a university place. |
| A*. A total of 8.3% of A-levels taken by girls were | | | | The president of the National Union of Students |
| awarded the new A* grade, compared with 7.9% of | | | | (NUS) Aaron Porter said: "With youth unemployment |
| those from boys. | | | | pushing one million, savage education funding cuts and |
| Students from independent schools were | | | | arbitrary limits on places, the government is at risk of |
| proportionately more likely to get an A*. They | | | | imposing poverty of opportunity on a generation of |
| provided 30% of all A* grades awarded, despite | | | | young people facing a very uncertain future." |
| making up only 14% of entries. Candidates from | | | | The biggest problem this year is clearly the recession. |
| comprehensive schools, which are responsible for | | | | With jobs scarcer, the competition for university |
| 43% of A-level entries, gained 30% of the A* | | | | places automatically heats up. But there are other |
| grades awarded. Further education and sixth-form | | | | factors at work too. |
| colleges, which enter 30% of candidates, saw their | | | | The system has become skewed by awarding points |
| students given 20% of all A*s awarded. | | | | for A-Level grades, implying that an A-Level in media |
| The highest percentage of A*s was awarded in | | | | studies is as valuable or useful as the same grade in |
| further maths at 29.9%. 17.2% of maths candidates | | | | maths or a science. The fact that these softer |
| achieved the grade. The numbers taking maths | | | | subjects are attracting more teachers only |
| continued to rise with an extra 4,526 entries, and an | | | | exacerbates the trend. |
| extra 1,209 for further maths. It is pleasing to see | | | | The private sector and the best state schools have |
| this trend after a marked fall back earlier in the | | | | shown that it is possible to maintain good standards, |
| decade. | | | | while keeping the demand for trendy or less |
| In Scotland, the overall pass rate for Highers was up | | | | demanding subjects to a low level. Securing a place |
| slightly, to 74.6%, creating a new record. Northern | | | | for your child at one of these schools and the rules |
| Ireland fared the best of the regions, with 35.7% of | | | | for the child's education are clear: traditional subject |
| papers being given an A or A*, 9.3% the A*. | | | | choices, respected by the top universities, rigorously |
| So why, despite these record successes, are many | | | | pursued. It is a recipe that has sadly disappeared in |
| candidates facing disappointment over university | | | | too many places. |
| places? | | | | Our school-leavers deserve better than the mess |
| Applications this year are up by 12% on last year's | | | | they have found themselves in this year. What will |
| record level, with the numbers increased by those | | | | become of our goals of greater social mobility when |
| re-applying after not finding a place last year. | | | | subjects such as German and physics thrive in the |
| Many universities are warning that the number of | | | | independent sector but are dwindling elsewhere? The |
| places available through the 'Clearing System' will be | | | | knock-on effect is the closure of the university |
| severely restricted. Last year almost 48,000 students | | | | departments in these subject areas, and this has |
| found places through this system, which matches | | | | already begun. |
| available university places to students who did not | | | | If you are still unsure about where or whether to go |
| get the grades they needed for their first choices. | | | | to university, it's essential to get some high-quality, |
| Half of Scotland's universities have already said their | | | | targeted information, advice and guidance. Speak to |
| courses are full. | | | | your teachers and to the universities themselves. |
| Universities Minister David Willetts congratulated | | | | Don't rush into a course that isn't suitable for you. |
| students on their results and said that those who did | | | | You may end up leaving university early without a |
| not get the offer of a university place had other | | | | degree, but with the debt. |
| good options. | | | | Good luck. |