A-level results day: York, North and East Yorkshire

Nationally the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades is up on last year and remains above pre-pandemic levels, national figures show.

And more than a quarter or 27.8 per cent of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2 per cent achieved the top grades.

This was also higher than in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic – when 25.4 per cent of entries were awarded A or A* grades.

Overall, the proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has risen by 0.4 percentage points to 9.3 per cent, compared with 8.9 per cent in 2023, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7 per cent in 2019.

Excluding 2020-2022, the years of the pandemic, this is the highest proportion of A* grades awarded since they were first handed out in 2010.

But the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2 per cent this year, which is lower than last year (97.3 per cent) and the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (97.6 per cent).

At Huntington School in York head, Matt Smith said: “Congratulations to all students in Year 13 at Huntington School who have yet again received outstanding results, with 70 per cent of all exam entries at A* - B. Such results have been a trend in place for many years now. We are so proud of all our students - not only in what they have achieved academically but also how they have developed as terrific, well-rounded and caring individuals. 

"These examination results reflect their tremendous energy and commitment to their studies. As a year group they have been superb role-models for the rest of the school, demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment to making a difference through their volunteer work and enterprise projects.  As they move on to the next stage of their lives, they carry with them great values and attitudes.

"We couldn't be more proud of them and wish them all the very best as they move on to the next stage in their lives.”

Matt Smith Huntington School head (Image: Supplied)

At Outwood Academy Easingwold in North Yorkshire 37 per cent of all A-level entries were awarded A*-A which is significantly above the national average and a 12 per cent rise from 2019. 21.4 per cent of students achieved all A*/A grades across all their A-levels and a quarter of students in the year group gained at least two A grades. 63 per cent of all entries were awarded A*-B. 

Head Emma Taylor, said: "I am delighted that our young people are now able to fulfil their dreams of either attending university or their chosen apprenticeship or employment and we look forward to hearing about their future successes. I would like to thank all our students for being such wonderful members of our school community and would also like to extend my thanks to parents and carers who have supported our young people so brilliantly over the years.”

At The Mount School in York 50 per cent of pupils achieved arade A and A*, with 80 per cent of pupils achieving Grade B and above.

Many girls outperformed their predicted grades after working so hard, with an astonishing over 82 per cent of girls achieving at least one Grade A at A- level and many achieving two or more.

At Pocklington School in East Yorkshire head of sixth form Tim Morris said overall, 65 per cent of all results were A* to B grades (or BTEC equivalent) with 39 per cent A*/A grades and 90 per cent A* to C grades.