Daily Exspress - EXAM JOY AS STUDENTS RECORD BEST EVER RESULTS AT A LEVEL

STUDENTS across the country were last night toasting the nation’s best ever A-level results.
Brushing off concerns that the exams have become too easy, teenagers celebrated after recording an unprecedented 97 per cent pass rate.And one in four sixth-formers were awarded at least one A grade (25.9 per cent, up from 25.3 per cent last year).Teachers and ministers denied A levels have been dumbed down, despite the national pass rate rising to a record level for the 26th year in a row.Results received by some 300,000 teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, showed only 2.8 per cent of them failed the exams.But for the first time the exam board released a regional breakdown, examining pass rates and the proportion of students getting A grades in various areas of the country.It showed the greatest improvements in the last six years have been in the south-east with the north-east appears to be lagging behind.While the south-east has seen A grades rise 6.1 per cent – to 29.1 per cent since 2002 – the north- east has seen an improvement of just 2.1 per cent – to 19.8 per cent in the same period.Shadow Children’s Secretary Michael Gove said the divide was “worrying”.He said: “It underlines yet again the need for reform to create new good school places so that children in the less well-off areas get the same opportunities as others."

But there remained fierce argument over whether the tests had become too easy.While critics said the pass rate meant A levels were becoming meaningless, supporters argued that the results were simply a testament to students’ hard work and better teaching.Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers’ union said: “These are Olympian achievements and represent years of hard work and sustained effort by students and teachers alike.”Dr John Dunford, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “If you continue to get nearer to 100 per cent it would suggest schools and colleges’ guidance programmes are improving. That’s got to be in the best interests of students.”There was a whole gamut of success stories yesterday, including a set of 18-year-old quadruplets who scored stunning results. Tolu, Tayo, Tobi and Tosin, all members of the Oke family, were born just a few minutes apart.They all achieved A, B or C grades at the St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College in Clapham, south-west London.Sisters Tayo and Tolu and brothers Tobi and Tosin will now go to their first-choice universities.Tolu was awarded a grade A in history, an A in sociology and a B in English language and literature. Tobi achieved a B in English language and literature, a B in sociology and a C in history. Tayo got an A in business, an A in sociology and a C in biology. Tosin kept up the high standard with an A in sociology, a B in business and a C in IT.But the quads were not the only tale of success among families with multiple births.A set of triplets was also celebrating after a clean sweep in their A-level results – notching up a stunning 13 grade As between them.Tim, Rachel, and Clare Heard, all 18, are now looking forward to going to university.Tim, who gained the top grade in geography, chemistry, biology and general studies said: “We are all absolutely delighted with our results. Rachel and Clare worked really hard but I preferred to socialise with my friends.”The trio all attended King Edward Camp Hill School in Birmingham, but will now go their separate ways to different universities. Other successes saw identical twins Anika and Nicola Ueckermann scoring impressive results.The 18-year-olds, from Colchester County High School for Girls, were delighted with their A and B grades and will both go to the University of East Anglia. They rejected criticism that exams are becoming easier. “They are definitely not,” said Anika. “This year was really hard.”