Nearly 180,000 18-year-old students in England have had their place at their first choice of university confirmed. This is the largest number ever on record for an examination year, a 20% increase on 2019, when exams were last sat.

Overall, 425,830 students of all ages and domiciles will be going onto university, including a record number of 18-year-olds from a disadvantaged background for an examination year. The gap between the most and least advantaged progressing to university has narrowed to a record low (from 2.29 in 2019 to 2.26 in 2022, and from 2.32 in 2021.)

The first cohort of T level students received their results today, with over 92% achieving a pass or above. Many have already secured their first job or an apprenticeship in areas like mechanics and digital product design, and 370 students, 71% of those who applied, have so far been placed onto a university course, demonstrating the flexibility and appeal of these courses.

This is the first year that students have taken summer exams since 2019. As part of the Ofqual transition period back to pre-pandemic grades, AS, A level and Vocational and Technical Qualification results received today will be higher than in 2019 in recognition of the disruption students experienced during their exam years.

Exams were taken with support and adaptions in place, including advance information of topics for A levels, and longer assessment windows for vocational and technical qualifications.

Grades will be lower than 2021 when exams did not go ahead and grades were determined by teachers, as schools and colleges remained closed to most pupils until March.

36% of entries for A levels are at grade A or above in the UK – up from 25% in 2019, and down from 45% in 2021, reflecting the target set out last autumn.

Statistics published today also show:

• 83% of entries for A levels are at grade C or above – up from 76% in 2019, and down from 89% in 2021, reflecting the target set out last autumn.
• The gap between the proportion of top grades (A*, A and above and B and above) in independent schools and academies in England has narrowed compared to 2021.
• 92.2% of T Level students in receipt of results this year achieved a Pass or above, with 31.9% achieving a Distinction and 2.7% a Distinction*.
• Over 240,000 certificates awarded to a wide range of students who have undertaken Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications used for progression in a similar way to A levels, with results broadly similar to previous years.
• 87.7% of undergraduates for this year at UK universities are from the UK compared to 12.3% of international students. This compares to 14.7% of international students in 2019.

Education Secretary James Cleverly said: “I want to congratulate students getting their results today and say a big thank you to the teachers who helped them get to this point. These students have experienced unprecedented disruption over the last couple of years, and such excellent results are a testament to their resilience and hard work.

“Our plan this year was to ensure that students could sit their exams for the first time since 2019, be graded fairly and move on to the next stage of their lives as we return to normality after the pandemic.

“We have now seen the largest number of students on record for an examination year – including a record 23,220 of disadvantaged 18-year-olds – going on to university, while many others will take their next steps in further training or the world of work.

“Regardless of what those next steps are, I wish all students the very best on this exciting new chapter in their lives.”

179,690 18-year-olds in England gained their first choice of university place, 21,670 their insurance. This compares to 149,670 getting their firm choice and 19,300 getting their insurance choice in 2019.

The Government has been working with the higher education sector to ensure that universities have been making offers that reflect the grades students have received today.

Universities have been encouraged to be flexible in their decision-making on admissions for students who narrowly miss their grades or terms of their offer and they have a wealth of experience supporting young people throughout the application process, including through the changing circumstances with recent results cycles.

Medicine and Dentistry are hugely competitive courses, and consistently have far more applicants than there are places available. Despite more cautious offer making this year so universities can avoid oversubscription, the government expects all places on these courses to be filled for 2022/23.

For those students going onto higher education in September from the lowest-income households, on top of the standard cost of living support package, the Government has continued to increase support for living costs on an annual basis. This means that these students now have access to the largest ever amounts in cash terms. The Government also asked the Office for Students to protect the £256 million available to support disadvantaged students and those in the need for the current financial year.

If students have not received the grades they were hoping for, a record number of places are available through UCAS, as well as a range of high quality vocational and technical options. Students can call the National Careers Service on 0371 468 0468 for advice on their next steps.

To help future students recover from the impact of the pandemic the Government has invested nearly £5 billion including £1.5 billion for the National Tutoring Programme. Over two million courses have now started through the National Tutoring Programme, including 1.8 million so far this academic year across an estimated 80% of schools.

The Department for Education and Ofqual will evaluate the arrangements this year, before finalising 2023 arrangements as early as possible in autumn. The intention is to return to the carefully designed and well-established pre-pandemic exam arrangements as quickly as possible, given they are the best and fairest way of assessing what students know and can do.

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development (equivalent to three A-levels) is for anyone passionate about sport.  Students will have the opportunity to access multiple careers within the professional sports industry following this programme. However, studies will be combined with cricketing opportunities at the world class facilities at Edgbaston, which are used regularly by the players of England, Warwickshire, Birmingham Bears and Birmingham Phoenix.

Scott Thomas, Head of Section in the Institute of Sport at Sandwell College, said: “We understand this partnership to be the first of its kind that is delivered at a world-renowned cricket venue, which will provide the most inspiring of locations for our students to learn and prepare for a career in the professional sports industry.

“We expect many of the students to go on to develop a career in a wide range of sectors within this industry, which could include sports coaching and teaching, sports injuries and rehabilitation, sport development, performance analysis, nutrition, sport psychology, marketing, operations and even business. However, they can also enhance their cricket-playing journey in some of the best facilities in the world.

“This is a venue that is home to Chris Woakes and Amy Jones and is used throughout the year by many of the world’s best cricketers. Our students will be training in these same facilities and can develop under the guidance of some of the same top-level coaches.”

The vocational course will cover modules across the two years, including sports tourism, marketing communications, sports psychology, technical and tactical skills in sport and more. No exams will form part of the assessments, which include written reports, portfolios, and posters to verbal assessments, presentations, and practical observations.

The partnership with the Edgbaston Foundation in delivering the course, is a key step in the charity’s ambition to grow its ‘Cricket Inspired Learning’ theme, to support more young people into education and employment.

Ravi Masih, Lead of the Edgbaston Foundation, said: “One of the principals of the Edgbaston Foundation is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop and we’re very excited to collaborate with Sandwell College to provide more experience, skills and understanding of what it takes to work in professional sport.

“Through our many connections in the game with schools, cricket clubs, community programmes and our Member and supporter base, we plan to communicate and make this course widely available to as diverse a group of young people as possible. To attract more young women into the game would be fantastic, especially in the lead up to hosting women’s T20 matches at the B2022 Commonwealth Games.

“We are also committed to giving opportunities to further develop some of the talented students through work experience opportunities at Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Edgbaston Stadium.”

Graham Pennington, Principal at Sandwell College, said: “We are delighted to announce this unique partnership with Edgbaston Stadium, which will create once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for our students.

“We are committed to going above and beyond to deliver the best possible outcomes for our learners, and this brand-new course will support future careers in professional sports as well as wider industries.

“We look forward to working closely with Edgbaston Stadium delivering new courses in the city of Birmingham with our widely regarded teaching, guidance and support for all of our students.”

Prospective students and their parents can learn more about the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development, at an open day at Edgbaston Stadium from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Friday 6 August. Email scott.thomas@sandwell.ac.uk to register a place and find out more.

BTEC Level 3 students at Rein and Shine at Braydon, Swindon will spend an away day at the RAU in Cirencester as part of their course, receiving training on equine anatomy and physiology from leading equine lecturers. The University has also confirmed that the BTEC Level 3 will be considered, alongside other relevant Level 3 qualifications, in applications to its BSc (Hons) Equine courses.

Rein and Shine is also offering all RAU students the opportunity to train for their British Horse Society (BHS) Stage 1 Certificate in Riding and Stable Management via Progressive Training. This will take place at Rein and Shine’s first-class facility which sits in countryside on the North-Wiltshire, South-Gloucestershire border. RAU students will receive discounted rates on all riding lessons which they can plan around their studies. Rein and Shine will also play host to the University Equestrian Trials in February 2019.

Owner John McDonald, who runs the centre with wife Jo, said: “It’s so rewarding to be recognised by a University as well-known as the RAU. We’re very much looking forward to working with them to help our BTEC students gain further equine education. In return, our team are excited to work with the RAU students to help them complete their Stage 1 progression training as well as offering them a high-class venue to come to and ride at their own leisure.”

Dr Andrew Hemmings, Head of the RAU’s School of Equine Management and Science added: “Working together will help our students learn the hands-on practical skills which are valued by many parts of the equine industry. We’re extending a warm welcome to Rein and Shine’s BTEC level 3 students at the RAU, providing them with first-hand experience of the University learning environment.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of the equine sector and together we can equip students with the skills required to succeed. We look forward to developing this relationship over time.”

The CP is designed for students wishing to engage in career-related learning while gaining transferable and lifelong skills such as communication, critical thinking and applied knowledge. Nine schools were involved in the pilot, which resulted in a 96 percent pass rate, and increased student retention, attainment and ambitions. All nine of the schools have continued to offer the programme and will be involved in helping the schools now joining the initiative to implement the CP. 

Siva Kumari, Director General, International Baccalaureate said: “The Kent initiative is particularly heartening for the IB because it is a community committed to the betterment of children’s lives via a rigorous academic Career-related Programme. Working together with public, private, educator and IB association partners, we are looking forward to further serving the community of Kent by creating educational pathways that allow students to excel in their immediate job or professional needs and also prepare them for a lifetime of learning and success. We are deeply honoured to be a part of this educational venture and to build it on the success of the pilot.”

With 18 schools new to the initiative, 30 percent of state schools in Kent will be offering students the opportunity to study an IB programme from 2017. Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director of Education and Young People’s Services, Kent County Council said: “By working with the IB to extend access to the Career-related Programme to 18 more schools across the county, we will continue to raise student aspirations across Kent. Thanks to the success of the first pilot we have seen students’ life chances vastly improved in deprived areas of Kent: two thirds of last year’s cohort progressed to higher education, something which would not otherwise have been expected.”

The Career-related Programme is for students aged 16 – 18 years and packages a career-related qualification (e.g. a BTEC) with at least two IB Diploma Programme courses and four unique ‘core’ components (personal and professional skills; service learning; language development; and a reflective project), the programme enables students to become self-confident, skilled and career-ready learners.

• Part time
• Regional/Online
• Closing date 31/10/14

Through becoming an Assessment Associate, you will gain a greater understanding of the range of abilities and differing approaches of students. This will, hopefully, help you gain a greater understanding of your subject area.

Examining, verifying and moderating is very flexible, offering you the opportunity to work from home and fit it around other commitments

Training dates are imminent, however please apply as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for training dates scheduled in October.

Due to the large amount of sectors available, please visit our vacancy page for more information:

http://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/teacher/aa-recruit/vacancies/Pages/home.aspx