Newport City Council congratulated pupils and staff as the number of Newport A-Level passes went above the Wales and UK averages today.

The proportion of students achieving the highest A Level A* and A grades is 26 per cent, remaining above the Welsh average of 23.6 per cent.

The percentage of those gaining an A* was 6.7 per cent, significantly above the Welsh average of 6 per cent.

Students achieving a pass grade at WJEC A Level (Grades A*-E) increased significantly from 94.4 per cent last year to 98.3 per cent and is above the Welsh average of 97.6 per cent and and the UK average of 98 per cent. Passes at WJEC grades A* - C were at 77.9 per cent in Newport, an increase from 76.9 per cent last year.

In the AS examinations, 85.3 per cent of students achieved a pass grade (Grades A-E), this is slightly below the Welsh average of 86.4 per cent. The percentage of students awarded the highest grade (Grade A) was 16.7 per cent, 0.6 percentage points higher than Welsh average of 16.1 per cent. Passes at grades A-C were at 57 per cent in Newport.

An increasing number of young people have stayed in Newport schools to enter WJEC exams. A-level exam entries were up 0.2 per cent from last year compared with a Wales decrease of 1.9 per cent.

Councillor Bob Poole, cabinet member for education and young people, said: “These are brilliant results. I would like to congratulate the students on their successes and wish them all the best with the next chapter in their lives, whatever that may be.

“I would also like to pay tribute to school staff and the council’s education department who are dedicated to ensuring our young people achieve their potential. Newport is renowned for its high education standards and that is something we can all be proud of.”