Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on today’s publication of level 3 results.
“Congratulations to students on their results in A-levels, AS-levels, and vocational and technical qualifications, and also to their schools and colleges which have supported these young people so superbly, not only during the high-pressure cauldron of exams, but throughout these demanding courses.
“While some students will be delighted with their results, others will be disappointed. We urge them not to panic but to speak to their teachers about their next steps. There are a range of excellent options available which will enable them to progress confidently to the next stage of their lives – whether that is in apprenticeships, higher education, or careers.
“Turning to A-levels in England, there are welcome increases in results at grade A and above, and also at grade C and above. This is testament to the hard work of teachers and students in often very challenging circumstances. Schools and colleges face severe funding and staffing shortages, and these students were affected by the disruption of the pandemic earlier in their education. They have overcome the odds and we salute the fantastic efforts of our brilliant education staff.
“However, we continue to see big differences in attainment between regions, reflecting socioeconomic factors which represent a massive challenge, not only for the education sector but our society as a whole. We have to stop merely talking about these issues and actually address them with investment in communities suffering from generational disadvantage. This cannot be solved by schools and colleges alone but must also involve action to boost the opportunities available for young people.
“While much of the focus on results day is on A-levels, we should not forget that many young people have recorded success in T-levels and vocational and technical qualifications. Our warmest congratulations to them, and we hope the government protects the choice available through various routes rather than scrapping many valued applied general qualifications, such as BTECs, as currently planned.”