THE waiting is finally over for A-level students across Northwich who will find out their results this morning. Many are hoping that their grades will be good enough to secure a coveted university place.

 

The Guardian is visiting schools to find out how well students have done. Experts have predicted that the pass rate nationally will stall this year, amid fresh attempts by the exams regulator to tackle grade inflation.

 

It has been suggested that around 8% of exams will achieve an A* and just over one in four exams will score at least an A - the same as in 2011. In a bid to tackle rising pass rates, exam watchdog Ofqual has told exam boards they will be asked to justify results that differ wildly from previous years. It means that the proportion of students awarded top grades is unlikely to increase greatly from 2011 levels.

 

Concerns have also been raised this that changes to university admissions will mean that able teenagers who are predicted to score two As and a B, but just fall short, will struggle to gain a place.

 

Under a new system, there is now no limit on the numbers of students with two As and a B at A-level that universities can recruit, allowing them potentially to offer last-minute places to youngsters who do better than expected and meet this threshold. But it means universities are likely to have less flexibility to admit students who just miss this standard, as there is still a strict cap on those who score less than AAB.

 

This year's students are already facing up to being the first to pay tuition fees of up to £9,000. Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of school and College Leaders (ASCL), said it would be a "tragedy" if bright teenagers who just missed their grades and lost out on a university place were disheartened. Mr Lightman said it was not yet known what effect the move would have, adding that there was a risk with any change that there will be "unforeseen circumstances".

 

Students predicted to score three As and get AAB could benefit, and despite missing their grades, still gain a place, he said. More later.