The Guardian view on A-level results day: great expectations have been met | Editorial
Strong results and high numbers of university acceptances are reasons to be cheerful, though troubling inequalities remain
With A-level marks higher than last year, and more young people getting places at their first-choice universities, 2024 will be counted as a successful round of results. Unlike 2023’s cohort, most of whose GCSE grades were awarded by teachers due to Covid, this year’s school and college leavers had a previous set of exams under their belts when they took their seats in exam halls. England’s exam regulator, Ofqual, believes this stood them in good stead and has ruled out grade inflation as an explanation for improved performance.
Whether they are leaving home to study or not, where to go is a big decision. It can only be a good thing that 82% of applicants have secured a place on their chosen course. Also encouraging is the fact that the 27,600 18-year-olds from the most deprived backgrounds who received an offer is the highest number on record.
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