August 19, 2011 6.50 am This story is over 159 months old

Lincolnshire schools score top A-levels

A*: Schools across the county have once again achieved excellent results in A-level examinations

Schools across Lincolnshire achieved above the national average results in A-level examinations, according to provisional figures from schools.

Initial results submitted by 34 schools with sixth-forms indicate Lincolnshire has scored an overall A-E grade pass rate of 98.4% for A-level qualifications, above the national 97.8% average.

The figures released do not include results from county academies, and the figures were not available in a local breakdown.

This is the second year that students have been able to achieve an A* grade. Nationally 8.2% of A-level entries have achieved this exemplary level.

So far, eight schools in Lincolnshire have matched or exceeded this proportion, with an average of 11.6% achieving the level in these schools.

At Caistor Grammar School, 16% of entries achieved the A* grade – twice the national rate.

More than a quarter of Lincolnshire schools have exceeded the national figure of 27% of entries at the highest grades A* or A.

The number of applicants to UK universities has now risen to a record high, as students try to avoid the treble increase in tuition fees from 2012.

The rush for places in clearing is now in full swing, with Ucas announcing that 185,000 candidates are battling for 29,000 unfilled places on degree courses.

Source: Lincolnshire County Council | Photo: Andrew West