Record A-level pass rates lead to row over standards

An argument over exam standards broke out last night as figures released in advance of today's A-level results showed another record pass rate.

The 18th consecutive rise in pass rates saw 89.1% of A-level entries achieve grades A-E, an increase of 0.6% on 1999. The number of A grades rose by 0.3% to 17.8%.

The increases were powered by girls, who continued to extend their lead over boys, who have stalled. Girls have won a greater proportion of passes at A-level since 1992 but for the first time this year they won more A grades.

Though ministers and teaching unions hailed the rise in grades as a sign of academic progress, the Institute of Directors condemned the improvements as "farcical".

The argument was fuelled by the popularity of subjects such as media, film and television studies. Entries for science, modern languages and geography fell - French by 13.5%. There was an 11.4% rise in those taking computer and information technology.

In the penultimate year for the old-style post-16 curriculum, more A-levels were taken than in 1999 despite a fall in the number of 18 year-olds. About 270,000 candidates will receive their results today.

Since 1990 the proportion of A-E grades has risen from 77% to 89.1% and A grades from 11.6% to 17.8%. In 1982, 68% of candidates achieved A-E grades. If present trends continued, all candidates would achieve grades A-E by 2047.

Ruth Lea, policy director at the IoD, said "endemic grade inflation" was making it harder for employers to discriminate between able and less able students.

Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education, said universities were complaining that students were not up to the standard of 10 years ago. The Tories called for a review of standards and the introduction of an A-starred A level.

But David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said Miss Lea was "in danger of bordering on the hysterical".

He said: "I think both she and the Campaign for Real Education are undermining the achievements of students and their teachers in a way that I find absolutely disgraceful."