Why DID the number of students achieving top A-level grades make a surprise increase this year? How pupils defied expectations to score the highest amount of A and A*s in a non-pandemic year

A-level students today achieved the best set of results in a non-pandemic year after the proportion of entries awarded top grades surprisingly increased on last year. Katie Smallwood celebrates after getting her A-level results at Solihull School this morning Kherri French and Yasmin Hanachova react together as they receive their A-level results this morning at Norlington School and Sixth Form in Waltham Forest, East London Carys Bonell and Ava Doherty celebrate at Harris Westminster Sixth Form in London today Hannah Greenwood reacts with her parents as she receives her results at Solihull School today Students celebrate their results at King Edward VII High School for Girls in Birmingham today Aisha Sidime, Daleen Sherkawi and Orissa Mistry at Solihull School this morning Noah Harrison receives his A-level results at Solihull School in the West Midlands this morning Pupils receive their results today at Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury, south Manchester Students celebrate their results at King Edward VII High School for Girls in Birmingham today Jack Gallagher with his parents Matt and Lisa as he receives his results at Solihull School today Students receive their A-level results at Solihull School in the West Midlands this morning A family member looks at a student's A-level results at Solihull School this morning Students receive their A-Level results at the City of London Academy Highgate Hill today Students receive their A-level results at Solihull School in the West Midlands this morning Your browser does not support iframes. Here are the percentages of A-level entries awarded the top grades by nation and region, with the equivalent figures for both 2023 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019: North East England 23.9% North West England 25.5% Yorkshire & the Humber 24.6% West Midlands 24.8% East Midlands 22.5% Eastern England 27.5% South West England 26.9% South East England 30.8% London 31.3% England 27.6% Wales 29.9% Northern Ireland 30.3% All 27.8% Here is the A-level pass rate by nation and region: North East England 97.6% North West England 97.6% Yorkshire & the Humber 97.3% West Midlands 96.8% East Midlands 96.6% Eastern England 97.1% South West England 97.4% South East England 97.3% London 96.9% England 97.1% Wales 97.4% Northern Ireland 98.5% All 97.2% Department for Education figures, as of February 8, show 234 education settings in England were identified as having the collapse-risk concrete in their buildings. Ting Ting He hugs Victoria Lovera at Ark Globe Academy in South East London today Leena Hamza at Newcastle High School for Girls got three A*s today and will study medicine at Imperial College London Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester today Students sit together after receiving A-level results at Ark Globe Academy in London today Students receive their A-level results at Belfast High School this morning Azizah Haider receives her A-level results at Ark Globe Academy in South East London today Emma Harris receiving her A-level results at Belfast High School this morning Student Umar Fernandez at City of London Academy Highgate Hill today Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester today Education Minister Paul Given joins students at Belfast High School this morning Students receive their A-level results at Ark Globe Academy in South East London today Ciara Wilson and Leah Horan after receiving A-level results at Belfast High School today Student Cleashei Nicolas receives her A-level results at Ark Globe Academy in London today Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester today Emily Hall at Newcastle High School for Girls will study geography and planning at university 'It's about having those range of options that are available.