A-level Results Show Regional Divide

This year, students in London got more top A-level grades than students in other regions. In London, 32.7% of students received A or A*. In the north-east and East Midlands, only 23.1% got top grades. The gap is now 9.6 percentage points.

The latest A-level results show a significant divide in top grades between London and other regions. In London, 32.7% of A-level entries received A or A*, while only 23.1% did in both north-east England and the East Midlands. This 9.6 percentage point gap is the largest since 2010. The north-east saw a slight increase in top grades, but the East Midlands experienced a decrease.

Recent A-level results have highlighted a widening regional divide in the achievement of top grades, particularly between London and other areas such as north-east England and the East Midlands. This year, 32.7% of A-level entries in London were awarded A or A*, marking an increase from 32.1% in 2025. In stark contrast, both the north-east and the East Midlands reported only 23.1% of entries receiving top grades, representing a significant 9.6 percentage point gap, the largest recorded since the grading system was established in 2010. While the north-east saw a slight rise from 22.9% to 23.1%, the East Midlands experienced a decline from 23.8% to 23.1%, exacerbating the regional disparity.