Time to celebrate a bumper year for A-level pass rate

Results released today reveal that pass rates have increased for the tenth year running, raising what are becoming annual concerns that the "gold standard" exam is getting easier.

But this has been rejected by colleges in the North-East, who say they are delighted with the results.

Provisional results show that the numbers of students obtaining pass grades from A to E was up by 0.6 per cent to 89.1 per cent this year.

The proportion achieving top A-grade passes also rose slightly by 0.3 per cent to 17.8 per cent.

For the first time, girls overtook boys, achieving more A to C grades in total and beating their male rivals at maths and physics.

The results have led the Government and teachers' leaders to criticise those who repeatedly claim that the higher pass rates mean the exam is getting easier.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: I simply don't believe that this year's results demonstrate that there has been a reduction in standards."

Jerry Bartlett, assistant general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "Again this year, the hard work of A-level students and their teachers has been rewarded.

"At a time when schools and colleges are under enormous pressure from every side, the results should be celebrated as impressive."

At Darlington College, Peter Shuker, principal and chief executive, said: "Far more young people are committing themselves to post-16 study and are giving out the message that they want to make progress that will help them into university or get them a better job."

Colin Craig, vice-principal of City of Sunderland College, added: "We are confident that the overall City of Sunderland College pass rate for 2000 will be appreciably up on last year and that we will be celebrating record-breaking results."

The National Union of Students has welcomed the results, but is urging new university students to back the union's campaign against top-up fees