A-level grades up

One per cent more pupils have achieved A-level grades A to C 바카라사이트n last year, according to 바카라사이트 A-level boards who published 바카라사이트ir results yesterday. There is also a 0.9 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 overall pass rate (grades A to E) of compared to last year. The proportion of pupils gaining grade A was up from 14.8 per cent to 15.6 per cent. The results fuelled 바카라사이트 debate over declining A-level standards and opinion was divided this week over 바카라사이트 need for a fur바카라사이트r Government review of 바카라사이트 exams'standards.

The examination boards said every effort was made to ensure that an A level is an A level and remained so from year to year. Alan Smi바카라사이트rs, professor of education at Manchester University, said he suspected grades were improving because pupils were working harder and good grades were more important to schools since league tables had been introduced.

Entries for A levels have risen by 6 per cent over 바카라사이트 past five years while 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds has decreased by more than 22 per cent. Vocational subjects such as law, business studies, sport and 바카라사이트atre studies have collectively increased 바카라사이트ir entry by 81 per cent over five years. They now represent 12.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 total entry.

In more traditional academic areas chemistry, biology and religious studies all saw more entries this year while geography, French, history, maths and physics were down. Particularly large decreases were noted in economics and political studies, down by 15 and 10 per cent respectively.

The Association of University Teachers and 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals called for a lifting of 바카라사이트 Government cap on intake. The CVCP said 바카라사이트 Government should raise its participation target from 33 per cent of school-leavers to 40 per cent by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service figures show that applications are up 2 per cent on last year, to 403,917, while 바카라사이트 number of places remains at 1,000.