A RECORD number of scholars in England achieved the highest A-level grades this 12 months, and greater than four-fifths received a spot at their first-choice university, as students came upon their A-level results on Thursday morning.
Eighty-two per cent of scholars were accepted at their first-choice university, up from 79 per cent last 12 months. The variety of those from probably the most disadvantaged backgrounds accepted into university also rose, by 4 per cent last 12 months, to a record high: a complete of 276000 accepted, compared with 26,650 within the previous best 12 months of 2021.
The number receiving top grades in England also rose for the primary time since that 12 months. More than one quarter (27.8 per cent) were marked at A* or A.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, the proportions were lower than last 12 months: falling from 34 per cent to 29.9 per cent in Wales, and from 37.5 per cent in Northern Ireland to 30.3 per cent.
The number of scholars in England and Wales taking religious studies (RS) at A level fell by 1.5 per cent, continuing a trend of year-on-year decline (News, 17 August 2023; News, 19 August 2022).
The decline this 12 months, nevertheless, was less marked than the drop in entries for certain other humanities subjects. History fell by 2.3 per cent, and sociology by 6.5 per cent.
The chair of the Religious Education Council, Sarah Lane Cawte, said on Thursday that RS “continues to be a well-liked A level, grounding students in an instructional and personally enriching exploration of life’s biggest questions”.
A scarcity of specialist teachers of the topic, though, meant that students were “losing out”, and he or she reiterated calls for a national plan to recruit and resource religious education, to “help the topic once more thrive at its most advanced level in all our schools, preparing students for further academic study, employment and energetic engagement in our society”.
Recent evaluation of Department for Education figures, reported in The Times, indicates that half of those that teach RS accomplish that along with a predominant subject, and that 56 per cent hold no qualification in the topic.
As a part of efforts to recruit teachers, a £10,000 bursary for trainee RS teachers has been made available by the Government.
The chair of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE), Katie Freeman, congratulated students on Thursday, but said: “Sadly, it appears that evidently 12 months on 12 months, the chance to review RE at A level is dwindling for a lot too many. We have a wealth of RE teaching talent on this country. Backing it with support from government and college leaders will allow RS A level to once more turn out to be a hit story, allowing 1000’s of scholars across the country to pursue their interest in life’s biggest questions into university, the workplace and our communities.”
On Thursday morning, the Church of England’s social-media accounts posted a prayer for results day, which described God as “generous without finding fault”, and asked for help to “stay calm as I wait for news”.
Among those offering hope and support to students receiving results was the Bishop-elect of Whitby, the Revd Barry Hill (News, 31 July).
His son received results on Thursday, and Mr Hill defied a bent by online commentators to suggest that they didn’t matter: “They do and have often been worked hard for,” he wrote, but “irrespective of what, you’re loved and known by God who has a novel purpose for you.”
“The path rarely runs as we expect and gold is usually found off course,” he wrote. In his latest appointment he’ll chair the board of education within the diocese of York, and be the diocese’s episcopal lead for growing younger and more diverse.
An expert review of the national curriculum, commissioned by the Government, is currently being undertaken, and is to incorporate consideration of the assessment system.
In a recent House of Lords debate, the Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, called for the Church of England to be involved within the review (News, 1 August).
