The disadvantage gap remains in A-level results but average points have slightly improved, government data on the 2024 exam cohort revealed.
Provisional A-level data released today by the Department for Education shows that the gap between the average point score (APS) for disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students was 4.9 points.
In 2023-24, the APS for disadvantaged students was 30.15, whereas non-disadvantaged students had an average point score of 35 - a slight rise for both groups.
The gap between disadvantaged and their non-disadvantaged peers remained broadly similar to last year (4.88 points) when it returned to pre-pandemic levels after hitting a high of 6.2 in 2019-20.
APS rises for state and private school students
The average A-level result for 2023-24 was B-, the same as the previous year. The average APS for 2023-24 was 35.49, a minor rise on the 2022-23 figure of 35.29.
Data released on A-level results day in the summer showed an increase in top grades awarded, which remained above pre-pandemic levels.
However, the summer results also showed an increase in the gap between the proportion of A and A* grades being achieved in state and private schools, as well as between higher- and lower-performing regions in England.
The APS for state schools increased marginally on last year: 34.86 for the latest cohort, compared with 34.63 in 2022-23.
Independent school students also saw a similar rise in their APS, increasing to 42.82 from 42.53.
Ofqual chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham said on results day that any difference in results to 2022-23 was down to the ability of the cohort.
A-level students with a prior attainment of 7+ had an APS of 44.54, while those with a prior attainment of 4-<7 had an APS of 28.88.
In 2022-23, A-level students with a prior attainment of 7+ had an APS of 43.16; those with a prior attainment of 4-<7 had an APS of 28.44.
The gender gap has remained stable compared with last year, with a difference of 1.2 points in favour of female students. They continue to perform better than male students at A level, and the APS gap is unchanged from last year.
However, the disadvantage gap for female and male students is now the closest it has been in the last five years, at 5 and 4.9 points respectively. This is narrower than in 2022-23 when the disadvantage gaps were 5.1 and 4.8 points for female and male students.
Final A-level data will be released in February 2025.
‘Deeply troubling trend’
Teach First CEO of Russell Hobby said that the results “confirm a deeply troubling trend: the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers remains stubbornly wide”.
He added: “This is now not just a moral issue, but a threat to our country’s future prosperity and economic growth.”
Mr Hobby demanded that the government act “decisively by weighting additional school funding where it is needed most: schools serving disadvantaged communities”.
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