A level Results day..... Really nervous to put out a video, but it is something I have wanted to do for a long time!! Students and colleges adapt quickly to great competition through clearing system for A-level students whose grades differFewer students having to take part in clearing, suggesting universities have been making more generous offers Chemistry rose by 5.2% and physics by 3.1%. It would appear to me that students are choosing traditional subjects which they feel will further their employment opportunities or their access to further and higher educations.The proportion of A*-C grades was unchanged at almost 84% but there was a decrease in the percentage of entries achieving the top A*-A grades, dropping to just over 30% this year compared to almost 32% last year.
Alan Smithers, a professor at the Centre for Education and Employment Research, University of Buckingham The shifting balance seems to be due in part to the A-level reforms of 2010. He previously picked up A-grade A-levels in photography and Spanish and an A-grade AS-level in maths. But equally, don't be too much in awe (like the student of mine who could not imagine that a professor might Looks like Reading University have recruited an extra member of staff to their Clearing team...Many thanks for all the comments, contributions and suggestions. Demand for higher education has recovered after a dip last year and universities are keen to accept qualified applicants. More universities and students will make use of it compared to the past, when we had a highly regulated system.The relaxation of student number controls means universities will better able to offer courses to the best applicants, he said, but admitted that the system is still "unfamiliar".Truthfully, we still don't know. The experience has been a mixed one, she tells me:"I thought last night, what if I was a student who'd been out of education for four years and was thinking about applying through Clearing? University places fill at record pace amid clearing competitionUniversities accept record 401,000 students as clearing continuesClearing 2013: elite universities compete for £1bn in student feesA-levels 2013: fall in A* results for girls drives decline in top marksA-level results: students jump for joy - brick-by-brick animationA-level successes for Tom Daley, acid attack victims and cancer patient "However, that so few students take a language at A-level is disappointing and although Spanish continues to show growth, the overall trend remains downwards. The demand for higher, technical skills will far outstrip the numbers going through the traditional university model alone.Universities are now competing directly with firms for the brightest sixth formers. Much more.This from James Kewin, Deputy Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association:Our congratulations go to all students that received their A level results today. 2.3% fewer males took English compared with an increase of 0.6% in the number of females.Among the subjects suffering a slump in interest were physical education (-14.53%), design and technology (-8.54%) and drama (-8.42%).Application rates to traditional language subjects continued to suffer, with German and French application rates dipping 14.53% and 9.9%. As it turned out, that's what I got for my A-level grades too: N-U-N.I expected to get 2 As and a B, at least. In her article today, my colleague Rebecca Ratcliffe Changes to admission rules that allow institutions to take an unlimited number of applicants with grades of ABB or above mean institutions will compete fiercely to enrol extra students. If big firms are serious about tackling this, they need to target girls much earlier, with better recruitment, mentoring and succession planning.We must tackle the perception that A-levels and a three-year degree alone is the only route to a good career. It's okay to admit that you are not quite sure of the course you want, but you should at least have a subject area in mind. It's actually a really difficult process, especially if you're not based at a school or a college. Before you pick up the phone, take a look at Remember, universities want to fill their places with good "We have people crying because they got three As, but didn't get into med school. We should not expect a return to the days of relentlessly higher grades.This is a fundamental change, which raises the crucial question of how we are supposed to judge whether standards are improving. Okay, so just got my A-level results on email which is the most nerve-wracking thing ever, having to open that and see it come through. Get to know them. For shame, Guardian. For more information on this, see our Wes Streeting, former president of the National Union of Students, is no fan of the clearing system, which he terms "higher education sector's very own version of the bargain basement". Every place must go...Here's a fun vine that data reporter Mona Chalabi and community coordinator Hannah Waldran have put together.