National statistics

A level and other level 3 results: 2012 to 2013 (provisional)

Provisional information on 16- to 18-year-olds' A level and other level 3 results at the end of their final year.

Applies to England

Documents

Main text: SFR41/2013

Additional tables 1: SFR41/2013

Details

Headlines

Key messages and statistics for A level and other level 3 results in England in the academic year 2012 to 2013:

  • 6.7% more students entered for at least 1 substantial level 3 qualification in the 2012 to 2013 academic year - 409,896 compared to 384,017 in 2011 to 2012
  • a lower percentage of students achieved at least 2 qualifications - 90.4% of students achieved at least 2 substantial level 3 qualifications compared with 93.6% in 2011 to 2012
  • the average point score per student has fallen - the average point score per student entered for at least 1 substantial level 3 qualification dropped to 709.1 compared with 733.3 in the 2011 to 2012 academic year
  • the average point score per entry was relatively unchanged at 212.7 compared to 212.8 in 2011 to 2012 academic year
  • Female students achieved higher point scores than males
    • the average total point score achieved by females was 727.1, which was 37.8 points higher than the average point score for males (689.3 points)
    • the average point per entry was 216.5 for females and was 8.1 points higher than that for males (208.4 points)
  • a greater percentage of male students achieved the highest grades at A level compared to female students, with 12.6% of male students achieving 3 A*/A grades compared to 11.7% of female students

Background

This statistical first release (SFR) provides the earliest information on the overall achievements of young people in advanced level examinations (A levels and other level 3 qualifications).

The coverage of this release is 16- to 19- year-old students at the end of their final year of post-16 study in schools and colleges in England. The information is based on data collated for the 2013 School and College Performance Tables and covers achievements in all level 3 qualifications approved under Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act (2000). More information is available on the performance tables webpages.

The 2013 School and College Performance Tables will be published in January 2014, and will contain new indicators for 3 different cohorts of students based on the type of qualifications they are taking: A level, academic and vocational. The new indicators have been introduced to the performance tables to recognise vocational performance distinct from academic performance and take account of students that are on mixed programmes. These new measures are included in the SFR. Please see the technical notes section for details of the changes.

The achievement data underpinning the SFR is currently being processed following checks by schools and colleges. Revised figures will be published in January 2014 accounting for amendments made by schools during the checking exercise.

David Bartholomew

0370 000 2288

Attainment.STATISTICS@education.gsi.gov.uk

Published 17 October 2013