A TOTAL of 98.6 per cent of A-level students in Wales achieved A*-E grades and there was also a small increase in the number of students awarded A* with 10.8 per cent of learners receiving this grade.

At AS level, 22.2 per cent of all grades awarded were A in Wales this year; and 91.4 per cent of candidates achieved A*-E grades.

The results are broadly similar to previous years according to the WJEC, despite no examinations being held.

Usually the Tivyside would bring a breakdown of individual schools across the Cardigan area.

But this has not been possible this year.

Carmarthenshire County Council – responsible for Newcastle Emlyn School – said it will not be providing a breakdown of either individual schools or county results.

A similar response came from Ceredigion County Council, which covers Cardigan School and Bro Teifi at Llandysul.

A spokesperson for Ceredigion Council said: “Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education announced yesterday that a learner's final A-level grade cannot be lower than their AS grade.

“As a result, this changes the pupils' results and therefore the council will not be responding further to any press enquiries until the amended results have been analysed.

“We wish our young people well as they receive their results in difficult and challenging conditions. We are delighted with the way in which they have responded to this issue and wish them every success in their next phase.

“We are encouraging all pupils receiving their A-level results today to contact their schools for any support and advice. They can arrange an appointment to see their teachers face to face.”

In Pembrokeshire, Preseli School head teacher Michael Davies congratulated its pupils on their success but again, countywide, no breakdown of figures was available.

More than 12,500 A-level grades have been lowered by the exam watchdog after teachers' predictions were deemed "too generous". Qualifications Wales standardised results, ahead of them being given to pupils.

But pupils whose results today are worse than their earlier AS grades in that subject will see their A-levels adjusted, after a last-minute intervention by the Welsh government.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams yesterday (August 12) announced that a student’s final A-level grade cannot be lower than their AS grade. This means some students may have to wait for revised grades to be reissued by the WJEC.

She said: “I am confident that the system overseen by Qualifications Wales (QW) and WJEC, in response to the current emergency, is fair for students and robust in what it measures and signals to employers and universities.

“However, governments in other parts of the United Kingdom have introduced changes to their systems and we must make sure that these alterations do not disadvantage Welsh students.

“Students in Wales, and prospective employers and universities across the UK, can be assured that their A-level grades reflect their work and externally assessed exams.

“Almost half the final grade comes from AS-level exams – this is not the situation elsewhere.

“Therefore in building on that completed work, I am giving a guarantee that a learner’s final A-level grade cannot be lower than their AS grade. If a student receives a final grade that is below that of their previous AS grade, then a revised grade will be issued automatically by WJEC.

“This will mean – and I have received assurances from UCAS and universities – that students can speak with confidence to their prospective universities regarding their A-level grades.”

How to appeal grades

Pupils who feel they have received the wrong grade should discuss this with a teacher/lecturer or the exams officer within their school/college.

If a school/college agrees that a pupil has grounds to appeal, they will submit a request to WJEC which will go through an ‘initial review’. This can take up to 42 calendar days to complete.

Tivyside Advertiser:

If you are waiting to confirm a university place then your school/college should submit the appeals application as soon as possible after the publication of results.

The final deadline to appeal is September 17, 2020.

Following an appeal, results can go up, down or stay the same. If your school/college is going to submit an application for appeal on your behalf then you must ensure that you have given them your written consent to do so.