Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the publication of this year’s A-level and vocational qualification results in Wales.
“Congratulations to everyone receiving their results today. These grades are the culmination of months and years of hard work by students and the brilliant support provided by staff in schools and colleges across Wales. Today’s results act as a gateway to future study and employment and we would urge anyone unsure of their next steps to seek advice from their school or college.
“Overall outcomes are lower than in 2023, due to the return to pre-pandemic grading standards. We would advise against comparisons with previous years due to the different methods of assessment and grading used during the pandemic period and the gradual return to normal.
“Although this year marks the return to pre-pandemic grading standards, it’s important to remember that the students getting their results today experienced severe disruption to parts of their education. The legacy of the pandemic lives on, particularly its impact upon young people from disadvantaged backgrounds whose families were also adversely affected by the subsequent cost-of-living crisis. There needs to be a renewed effort to support the work of schools and colleges in Wales in tackling the huge inequalities in our society.”