Hundreds of thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland opened their A-level, T-level and BTec results this morning, with a record number securing university places.
Nationally, 28.5 per cent of all A-level entries were graded A* or A this year, up from 28.3 per cent in 2025, itself a record high.
Yet behind the headline figures lies a growing divide between the north and south.
The disparity between London's top-grade performance and that of the lowest-performing regions has hit its widest point since the current grading system was introduced in 2010.
Roughly 41 per cent of UK 18-year-olds had applied to university by the end of June, a proportion broadly unchanged from last year despite intensifying debate over the long-term costs of higher education.
In the capital, 32.7 per cent of entries achieved A or A* grades, rising from 32.1 per cent the previous year and outstripping every other English region.
By contrast, both the North East and the East Midlands recorded the lowest share at just 23.1 per cent, leaving a 9.6 percentage point chasm between them and London.
This is the largest since tracking the data in 2010.
The East Midlands saw the sharpest regional decline, with its top-grade rate falling from 23.8 per cent to 23.1 per cent, widening its gap with the capital from 8.3 points to 9.6 in a single year.
North-east England's gap also grew, from 9.2 points in 2025, despite a marginal improvement from 22.9 per cent to 23.1 per cent.
South-east England trailed London with the second-highest rate, at 31.5 per cent.
The debate over whether university remains the right choice has intensified this year, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham championing technical education and mounting criticism of the student loan repayment system.
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Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, warned that negative rhetoric risked deterring the most disadvantaged applicants. "Don't let politicians make your decision for you," she urged students.
Ucas chief executive Jo Saxton echoed that frustration, describing attacks on higher education as "incredibly frustrating" and insisting that "there are lots and lots and lots of young people the best place for whom would be in a university."
Their interventions followed Burnham's announcement that English pupils will be able to study technical subjects alongside core academic learning from Year 10.
At the very top of the grading scale, London also led with 12.0 per cent of entries receiving A*, up from 11.6 per cent in 2025.
The North East and East Midlands again shared the bottom position at 6.9 per cent, with the East Midlands the only region to suffer a year-on-year decline in A* awards, dropping from 7.4 per cent.
Eastern England and the North West also experienced small falls in their A/A* rates, dipping by 0.1 percentage points each.
Across the nations, Wales achieved the highest A* rate at 10.7 per cent, ahead of England on 9.6 per cent and Northern Ireland on 8.8 per cent.
Undergraduate tuition fees in England and Wales are climbing for a second consecutive year, reaching £9,790 for students starting this September, yet four in 10 English universities are still forecast to report a deficit in 2025-26.
Following the record number of students getting university places, Mr Burnham said: "I want to congratulate everyone receiving their results today. I know there will have been a mix of excitement, nerves and relief this morning, but you should all be proud of the hard work that got you here.
"It's brilliant to see more students succeeding in T Levels, more taking maths and STEM subjects, and more young people progressing to the next stage of their education or training.
“The talent is there in every town and city in this country. Our task is to match that talent with opportunity, whether that's through university, an apprenticeship or a technical pathway that leads to a great career. That's how we'll build a stronger Britain, restore hope and ensure every young person can look to the future with confidence."
Education Secretary Lucy Powell added: "Congratulations to everyone getting their results today. You should be really proud of what you've achieved and I wish you every success for the future. A big thank you to the teachers and families who have backed you every step of the way.
"The rise in students receiving T-Level results this year is very encouraging, as well as so many students progressing in to higher education. There is no single route to achieving your ambitions.
"That's why we are opening doors with more high-quality opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential - whether that's through academic study, technical education or hands-on training for skilled work. Whatever path you choose, today is the start of an exciting future."
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