North East improves rate of top grades despite challenges of long term deprivation
Congratulations to all pupils, teachers and schools for their hard work
and success.
Today’s A Level results show that the North East has been the only region to
see an improvement in top grades, rising to 23%, while nationally top grades
have fallen by 0.9%.
Data also shows that our pass rate has risen once again, to 98.3% and continues
to be the highest of any region.
This year’s A Levels are the third year of the more rigorous reformed A Levels,
with all subjects now linear two year courses. As such it is a real achievement
for the region to see increases in top grades and overall passes, especially
given that top grades have fallen across the rest of the country.
Schools North East Director of Operations, Chris Zarraga, said: Huge
congratulations go to our students across the region. Their achievements are a
testament to their hard work, and the professionalism of teachers and school leaders
across our region.”
These positive results are in contrast to the recent Education Policy Institute
report which highlighted that secondary students in disadvantaged areas were
between 20-24 months behind their peers at age 16, and showed that the North
East suffers some of the largest gaps in the country. We know that within the
North East there is a far higher concentration of children experiencing the
highest impact, long-term disadvantage than elsewhere in the
country.
Chris said “The region’s performance at A-level shows how hard the region’s
schools work to close this ‘gap’. However, they also illustrate that much more
needs to be done by the Government to ensure that any proposed future increases
in funding are targeted to challenge the significant impact of disadvantage
faced by students in deprived areas like the North East. Sixth Forms have
faced some of the steepest cuts with funding falling by 26% per pupil since
2010. This needs to be urgently resolved.”