The proportion of students achieving the top grades at A-level has fallen to its lowest level for more than a decade, this year's results show. This year some 25.5% got an A grade or higher - the lowest level since 2007 when it was 25.3%. Girls narrowly reclaimed the lead from boys, with 25.5% achieving A* and A grades compared with 25.4% of boys.
Entries to Spanish have overtaken French for the first time, making it the most popular language at A-level. The results also show that English has taken a hit in popularity, with entries for English literature down 7.8% from 44,200 last year to 40,824 and English language down 21.8% from 18,049 last year to 14,114.
The University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) has already said there is a slight dip in the number of students being accepted on to UK degree courses. The total dropped 1% to 408,960, but the number of applicants looking for a place through clearing on Thursday morning rose slightly to 126,170.
This article relates to GCE A-levels and not International A-levels.
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