Top grades drop at A-level as 200,000 lose out on university

One in eight (12.4 per cent) 16-18-year-olds was awarded at least three A* or A grades in this summer's exams, down marginally from 12.7 per cent last year.

In total, 93.6 per cent of candidates attained two or more A-level passes – this is down from 95.1 per cent, the year before, figures published by the Department for Education show.

The figures show that independent schools are outperforming the state sector, with three times as many privately educated pupils scoring at least three top grades as state-educated peers.

In total, nearly a third (31.4 per cent) of private school students achieved three or more A* or A grades, compared with one in 10 (10.6 per cent) of those in the state sector.

But the figures are similar when it comes to the numbers passing two or more A-levels. Some 97.4 per cent of private pupils achieved this, compared with 96.5 per cent of state pupils.

Some 99.7 per cent of pupils educated in selective schools were awarded the equivalent of at least two A-level passes.

More than half of teenagers also gained five good GCSEs this summer, but concerns were raised that many are still leaving school without decent qualifications.

Some 53.1 per cent of pupils scored five GCSEs at grade C or higher, including English and maths, a 3.3 per cent increase on last year, according to statistics published by the Department for Education.

But this still means that around 300,000 youngsters are leaving compulsory education without good grades.

The figures came as it emerged nearly three in 10 potential students were denied a place at university this year.

More than 200,000 people missed out as universities faced a record number of applicants and a freeze on places at English universities.

Data published by the universities admissions service UCAS showed that a record 688,310 people applied to start degree courses this autumn.

But only 479,057 were accepted, meaning that around 209,000 missed out.