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# Suffolk A-level students see slight increase in top grades, still lagging behind UK average
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-a-level-students-see-slight-increase-in-top-grades/
- Published: 2024-08-16T12:49:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:37:33.000Z
- Description: More A-level students in Suffolk achieved the highest grade in 2024 compared to the previous year, but the figures remain well below pandemic-era results.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Further Education, #article, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** The latest figures from the exams regulator, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, show that 6.2% of Suffolk's 8,965 A-level pupils received at least one A\* grade last year, up from 6.1% in 2023.

However, this is significantly lower than the 16.9% who achieved top marks during the pandemic when teacher assessments replaced exams.

**Why it matters:** The results show a stabilisation in grades following the return to traditional exams, but could highlight the lasting impact of pandemic disruptions on education.

**By the numbers:**

- 8,965 pupils took A-levels in Suffolk last year
- 6.2% of Suffolk students achieved at least one A\* in 2024

**Yes, but:** Suffolk underperformed slightly when compared to the national average, where 9% of pupils achieved an A\* grade.

**What they're saying:** Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson congratulated students, telling Times Radio: "They've been through an awful lot in recent years, and they've shown tremendous resilience."

**Between the lines:** The pandemic's impact on education continues to be felt, particularly among disadvantaged students.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "While the dark days of the pandemic are in the past, its legacy continues to haunt us, as many of these students experienced severe disruption to their education."

**The bottom line:** While Suffolk's A-level results show a slight improvement, they reflect broader national trends of stabilising grades and ongoing challenges in the education system post-pandemic.

### Sources

- [Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation](https://analytics.ofqual.gov.uk/apps/Alevel/County/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)

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