Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has committed to closing the “big gaps” in university access across the UK.

Speaking to Sky News, she said:

I want all young people to be able to choose the path that’s right for them. For many young people that will be university, for many young people that will be an apprenticeship, or going into the world of work.

It’s about having those range of options that are available. And I think, sadly, whatever the headline figure in terms of university applications, we do still see, sadly, very big differences between different parts of the country.

So for example, you’re far more likely to apply to university from London and the south east than you are from the north east, where I’m from. So it’s not kind of a flat figure across the country. There are big gaps, big differences, and actually that they’ve been growing in recent years.

And the same is sadly true when it comes to some of our outcomes. And I’m absolutely determined to turn that around, because I don’t believe where you’re from should determine what you can go on to achieve, and it certainly shouldn’t limit your choices and options.”

Phillipson added that there are “plenty of opportunities” for A-level students who fall short on results day.

She told Sky News:

To our young people receiving their results, there are lots of great options out there in terms of what you can go on to do next.

For those young people who get what they need and move on to their destination of choice, that’s brilliant.

For those who perhaps fall slightly short, there are lots of options out there. There are lots of people that can be there to provide advice and support, whether that’s the school or college, Ucas through clearing, or the National Career Service.

Here’s an important reminder from the National Union of Students – that “your grades do not define you”.

Qasim Hussain, Vice President Further Education, said:

Congratulations on making it to results day! I know you have worked extremely hard to be here, and I am proud of you no matter what happens next.

Whether you choose to go straight into work, start an apprenticeship, or go to university, there is no one path to success. Any decision is a good decision as long as it is right for you. If you don’t know what you want to do, make sure to talk to your teachers, or guidance or careers counsellors to help identify what is the right path for you.

If you haven’t got the grades you expected, don’t panic. It may feel like the end of the world, but there are lots of ways to achieve your goals. If you didn’t get into the university you wanted, ask your teachers or guidance counsellors about clearing. If you are not interested in clearing, there is no shame in retaking an exam or taking a year out to rethink your goals.

Your grades do not define you. Whether you did better or worse than expected, you should be proud of all the hard work you put into getting yourself through such a stressful time. If you’re planning to stay in education, I hope to see you as part of the student movement in the future!

For anyone receiving their results and applying to further or higher education today, or supporting someone who is, here’s some advice from the Department for Education:

• Students’ school or college – or the admissions team at the university to which they are applying – should be their first port of call.

• Students can also get advice by visiting the Get Help with Exam Results hub on the National Careers Service website. Students can also contact an expert careers adviser by webchat through the National Careers Service website or by calling 0800 100 900.

• UCAS’s Clearing hotline on 0371 468 0 468 is open to help students understand their options.

• The online Clearing Plus service will help match students to courses with entry requirements that align with the grades they achieved.

• For young people who have not yet decided on their next steps, there are a variety of high-quality options available, including apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications, that will enable them to gain the skills they need to kickstart great careers. Students can explore their options through the Skills for Careers (education.gov.uk) website.

Grades ‘broadly similar to last year,’ says education secretary

The University and College Union has criticised the “chaotic scramble” of clearing, which takes place today and gives students an opportunity to get a fresh place at university.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:

The chaotic scramble to hoover up students through clearing shows why universities need a new funding model. The overreliance on tuition fee income is causing huge financial instability across the sector. In response, universities have resorted to offering cash prizes or the chance to win free accommodation to students who sign up through clearing. To stop institutions from making these inappropriate inducements, the government must step in and protect the sector. It needs to agree to provide emergency funding to protect all jobs, courses and institutions at risk, and end the failed marketised higher education experiment.

This results day, the union is urging the government to close the pay gap between school and college teachers, and calling for BTECs to be protected.

Polling of 17-21 year olds, conducted by Savanta on behalf of UCU, has found the overwhelming majority of young people:

• Want to see college staff paid fairly, through the closing of the college schoolteacher pay gap (81%).

• Are concerned about the cost of higher education (81%), believe students should pay less (84%), and want employers to pay more (70%).

• Want the government to provide emergency funding to universities at financial risk (87%).

Grady said:

Today is the culmination of years of hard work by students and staff, who should be commended for their dedication. Unfortunately, those receiving their results from further education colleges have been taught by staff who earn much less than their counterparts in schools. Schoolteachers will receive a fully funded 5.5% pay award while college teachers have again been left wanting. This is in addition to a pay gap of £9k that already exists.

A two-tier pay model, where college staff earn less, overwhelmingly disadvantages the working-class students who are more likely to attend further education colleges than their middle-class peers. If the government is serious about addressing the inequalities hardwired into England’s education system, it needs to urgently listen to young people and close the college schoolteacher pay gap.

On the government’s plan to scrap BTECs next year, Grady added:

Many students will be gaining their level 3 BTEC results today. This tried and tested entry route into university or onto skilled employment is now at risk of losing its funding. At the very least, the government needs to extend its review period so BTECs aren’t scrapped next year. Anything less will be a betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of students who rely on these crucial qualifications.

Pupils from poorer backgrounds aren’t getting enough advice on next steps after school, a Social Mobility Foundation poll has found.

The think tank found that less than half of young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds feel they have the resources and support at school to do their best (48% compared with 56% from higher socioeconomic backgrounds).

Just one in eight school and college pupils aged over 16 received advice about going straight into work, while only one in three were given advice on apprenticeships and just one in four had done in-person work experience.

The charity is calling on the government to ensure that all young people are able to make informed choices about their futures.

When asked about the barriers they experienced during secondary school and sixth form, over 1 in 5 (22%) from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said they had inadequate access to a quiet study space at home or at school. Around 1 in 10 (9%) from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said that inadequate access to the internet at home was a barrier. This was almost double the figure for those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds (5%).

The vast majority of university students of all backgrounds say they are worried about money (71%) and the cost of living (73%) – a higher proportion than say they are worried about keeping up with their studies (67%).

Over half (52%) of prospective students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said they were more likely to apply to a university closer to home, significantly more than from the higher socioeconomic group (43%). Less well-off students were also more likely to worry about student debt and keeping up with their studies.

Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive, Social Mobility Foundation, said:

Clearly, the government must prioritise closing the widening attainment gap between pupils from lower-income backgrounds and their peers. But not only are poorer students being held back in education, they’re not getting the guidance they need on their next steps. Whether it’s doing an apprenticeship, going straight into work or studying for a degree, young people must be given clear information on the options available to them in every school, right across the UK.

For those who do go on to higher education, we know that students are struggling to afford the essentials, with many having to live at home or earn while they learn. Universities need to ensure that their courses are flexible so that students can study in a way that suits their needs and flourish regardless of their background.

Good morning, and welcome to our blog covering A-level release day as hundreds of thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland nervously await the grades that could secure university places.

Schools received the results yesterday so will be braced to support those who may need to go through clearing if they have missed their grades.

Last year, the proportion of top A*-A grades in England shrank from 35.9% in 2022 to 26.5% in a reversal of pandemic-era grade inflation and some experts are predicting there could be a further fall this year.

Scottish students received the results of their Higher exams last week and the A-C pass rate showed a fall on last year, at 74.9% against 77.1% (it was 74.8% in 2019, before the pandemic hit).

This year, we’ll be looking to find out whether there has been a return to pre-pandemic marking after four years of instability; whether the north-south divide is growing, as well as the gap between boys and girls; and what the impact is on university admissions, with “every course under the sun” said to be available in clearing and institutions expected to accept lots of students who have missed their grades.

We’ll find out the answers at 9.30am this morning, so make sure you follow along with us today for all the developments.