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Daily News Summary
16 August 2018

A-level results 2018: overall trends
A-level results 2018: subject tables
A-level results 2018: grade remarking
Advice to A-level students
Live results coverage
Independent schools do not solely offer academic advantages
The importance of attending university is falling among young people
'Private schools don't deserve charitable status'

A-level results 2018: overall trends

 

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, offers his observations on the overall trends of the 2018 AS and A-level results.

iNews, Tes and Schools Week write that the proportion of students gaining A* at A-level has fallen to its lowest level in five years. Whereas BBC News reports that pupils have been awarded the highest proportion of As and A*s in their A-level results since 2012.

Take-up of Chinese at A-level has overtaken German, according to iNews and Tes, although it has come against a general decline in modern foreign languages.

Tes reports on several trends including girls closing the gender gap; the fall in humanities A-levels; and the rise in STEM entries .

 

A-level results 2018: subject tables

 

Education Datalab has produced a set of graphs with accompanying analysis to show how your schools' pupils have done in their A-levels compared to other students nationwide. Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

A-level results 2018: grade remarking

 

Huffington Post reports on criticism that the remarking system favours those who can afford to pay. Article quotes Peter Green, headmaster of Rugby School, following an article in The Times yesterday which reported that the school has pulled out of exam league tables.

The Times writes that exam board, Edexel, will upload its marked A-level exam scripts today to help prevent grade challenges.

 

Advice to A-level students

 

A number of publications advise pupils on what to do if results day has not gone to plan. Daily Mail advises on how to navigate clearing, including a quote from ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon. The Telegraph and The Times offer guidance on UCAS Adjustment. Huffington Post includes general advice while Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, writes in Tes that university is not the only option for students.

 

Live results coverage

 

The Guardian, Tes and The Independent feature live updates with pupils' results across the country.

 

Independent schools do not solely offer academic advantages

 

The Telegraph features a comment piece arguing why many parents choose to send their child to an independent school. By Sue Learner. Quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, and references Bolton School, St Christopher School, Frensham Heights and Royal Hospital School.

 
The Telegraph

The importance of attending university is falling among young people

 

Young people are increasingly sceptical about the importance of going to university, according to new Ipsos MORI polling published by the Sutton Trust. The Telegraph.

Read The Sutton Trust report here.

 
The Telegraph

'Private schools don't deserve charitable status'

 

Frances Ryan argues that independent schools should be stripped of their charitable status because they 'perpetuate inequality'. The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

 

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