Region's top A-level grades improve

Central St Michael's Sixth Form students Charlotte Britton, Aryan Mann, Rayden Brennan-Smelt and Regan Banks celebrate their results with principal Dr Matthew Lamb

Students across the West Midlands have been receiving their A-level, T-level and BTEC results today.

Alongside the north east, the West Midlands had the largest increases in A*/A grades across England, rising from 22.9% in 2023 to 24.8% this year.

The region falls behind the national average, with 27.6% of A-level grades being either an A or A* across England.

The West Midlands' pass rate remained at 96.8%, 0.4% less than the national pass rate of 97.2%.

'Results day is my favourite day of the year'

18-year-old Charlotte Britton earned two As and an A*.

The principal of Central St Michael's Sixth Form in West Bromwich, Dr Matthew Lamb, said results day was the reason he gets up every day in the morning to go to work.

"To see students celebrating with their friends and family and then telling us about all the exciting places they're going to is what makes the job worthwhile."

The sixth form college had a 99% pass rate with a 100% in subjects including Chemistry and Economics.

Charlotte Britton, 18, was pleasantly surprised to find out she had achieved two As and an A*.

"I saw the A* immediately and I was like, woah, so surprised! My parents are really proud of me."

She plans to take a year out to work and save ahead of going to university where she hopes to study media.

Regan Banks, 18, is heading to the University of York to study English.

"I thought could have done better in my exams but I'm still over the moon to get into my first choice uni. I'm going to go to 'Spoons [Wetherspoon's] to celebrate."

Clearing opportunities

Aston University's call centre opened at 8am today to deal with students hoping to secure a place through clearing.

Monique Gunter was among the 184 staff and students poised to offer students a place at the university. She is an Aston alumna and now works on the university's social media team. She got into Aston through clearing in 2016.

"I'm grateful to have the experience of going through clearing myself to help these students go through such a nerve-wracking time. Re-direction is really hard to grasp but I'd tell them: do not have those negative thoughts. There are so many amazing universities out there. Use it as a shopping experience."

Aston University's deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Osama Khan advised young people, their parents and grandparents not to worry if they didn't get the results they expected.

" Don't panic! There is a lovely course waiting for you to join."