A-level joy for Shropshire students
[gallery] Thousands of students across Shropshire and Mid Wales were today celebrating success in their A-levels – as results showed the exams are getting tougher.
Some schools across the region saw 100 per cent pass rates and many students today discovered they had achieved the top A* grade.
But the proportion of A-levels awarded at least an A grade has fallen for the second year in a row, official figures showed today.
A-level results - Round-up of Shropshire schools
In total, 26.3 per cent of entries scored an A or A* this year, down from 26.6 per cent in 2012 – a drop of 0.3 per cent.
It is believed to be the second biggest fall in the history of A-levels and comes after the A*-A pass rate fell for the first time in more than 20 years last year.
The latest drop comes amid rising numbers of teenagers taking A-levels in science and maths.
It had previously been suggested by some that an increased focus on traditional subjects, such as maths and science, would fuel a slight drop in results.
Figures released today also showed that nationally a record number of students have been accepted on university courses.
Already, 385,910 applicants have been accepted by UK universities and colleges. That is 31,600 more than at the same point last year, a rise of nine per cent.
The admissions service Ucas said it is the highest number of acceptances ever recorded.
More than a quarter of students at the county's biggest A-level centre, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, gained A* or A grades in today;s results.
And Walford and North Shropshire College, which has campuses in Oswestry and Baschurch, was today celebrating a record-breaking 100 per cent pass rate, with nearly three quarters at the higher A* to C grades.
Andrew Tyley, college principal, said: "Not only have we improved on our excellent A-level pass rate this year, but we continue to see more students achieving higher grades.
"The results are a tribute to the hard work of our students, the professionalism of our staff and the dedicated support of parents and guardians, all of whom can feel proud."
Officials at Adams College, Wem, the sixth form centre of the Thomas Adams School, were also delighted with another "outstanding" set results. Students achieved a 97 per cent pass rate, with more than 40 per cent of all results in the A*-B grades. Students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in 27 subjects.
Headteacher Liz Dakin said: "We're really delighted with these results. They underline the tremendous effort and commitment put in by both students and staff over these past two years.
"There have been wonderful individual achievements at every level, which is important for us because we are an inclusive college. I would like to congratulate the students and wish them all the very best as they take jobs, or move on to university to prepare for careers in areas such as law, engineering, business management, medicine and teaching."
Llanfyllin High School near Oswestry recorded a 90 per cent pass rate at A*-C as well as a 100 per cent success rate for students entered for the Welsh Baccalaureate.
Today's exam results come amid major reforms of A-levels, including a decision by ministers to "decouple" AS-levels – which are taken after one-year of study – from A-levels.
It means that in the future, AS-levels will become stand-alone qualifications, and will not count towards a student's final grade.
Instead, pupils will sit all of their exams at the end of the two-year course.
Nansi Ellis, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said she feared for students who did not get the grades they needed "because their prospects don't look rosy" at a time of high unemplyment for 16 to 24-year-olds.
She said the Government needed to "give more thought" to the students who did not get A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
