Top A-level grades up as university applications fall

In a reversal of fortune, boys beat girls in the top A and A* grades - the first time they have outperformed them since 2000.

Philippa (L) is going to Oxford and Mirna is going to Birmingham University

Top A-level marks in England and Wales have risen for the first time in six years, following a major shake-up to the system.

More than one in four A-level students scored an A or A* grade in their results, Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ) figures show.

But while the proportion of students getting higher grades has gone up, results across subjects reformed by the Government have fallen.

Thirteen A-level subjects were reformed - abolishing modular exams and reducing coursework - in a bid to better prepare students for university.

Also, for the first time this year, AS-level results no longer counted towards A-level grades.

The subjects altered were: art and design, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, economics, English language, English language and literature, English literature, history, physics, psychology and sociology.

For the first time, boys took the lead in A* and A grades - an honour scooped by the girls every year since 2000.

This year's reversal in fortune showed 26.6% of boys achieving coveted A* or A grades compared with 26.1% of girls.

Looking at trends in subjects, there was a huge spike in the number of students sitting computing exams, with a 33% rise since last year.

Political studies was also up, with nearly 13% more students sitting the exam in 2017.

Meanwhile, one of the most popular A-level subjects - history - saw its entry rates drop by more than 8%.

Students in Northern Ireland continued to outperform their peers in England and Wales, with 98.3% of this year's results in the A*-E pass grade range compared with 98.1% in the UK.

Girls in Northern Ireland did particularly well, leading the way in the top results with 33% achieving A*-A grades.

Maths remained the most popular subject in Northern Ireland.

The A-level results of teenagers from the Kensington Aldridge Academy - a school located directly underneath Grenfell Tower - will have their grades reviewed in the wake of the fire.

Results for the academy show that 62% achieved A to C grades in their AS-level exams - some of which were sat on the day of the tragedy while the building was still burning.

Students have had access to counselling and mental health support, which will also be available when the new term starts in September.

Despite the increase in top A-level results for 2017, the number of students accepted into university this year has fallen.

According to The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), 2% fewer places were awarded at universities in the UK this year.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson MP told Sky News: "We'd be wrong to categorise this as a big decline in any way - we're at our second highest ever level of applications. Critically, the number of placed offers for people from disadvantaged backgrounds are at record levels."

The drop in interest in going to university is mainly being attributed to a drop in the number of 18 and 19-year-olds in the country and changes to popular bursary schemes.

The possible impact of Brexit is also being seen as a contributing factor, with the number of EU students planning to study at a UK university or college falling by 5%.

In contrast, the number of sixth form or college leavers taking up apprenticeships has risen steadily from 175,000 in 2005-06 to more than 500,000 in 2015-16.

Meanwhile, millionaire presenter Jeremy Clarkson offered some words of comfort on Twitter for students who did not get the results they needed.

Clarkson wrote: "If you didn't get the right A-level results, don't worry. I got a C and 2 Us, and my chef is preparing truffles for breakfast."