The number of As increases but girls score more top marks than boys
Students scored A grades in 40 per cent of A-levels taken with the English Schools Foundation but could not match last year's record for top grades.
The foundation's five secondary schools saw the percentage of top grades fall 2.6 percentage points in results announced yesterday, while the pass rate stayed the same at 98.9 per cent.
ESF schools remained comfortably ahead of average results for British A-level students, ensuring good prospects for those competing for places in British and other overseas universities.
Provisional British results showed the pass rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 96.2 per cent - a record high and the 23rd consecutive annual increase - with the number of entries also at a record high.
The number of A-grade passes also rose 0.4 percentage points to 22.8 per cent, with girls achieving As in 23.9 per cent of papers, compared with 21.5 per cent for boys.The results triggered the annual row over whether A-level standards were declining, despite exam boards issuing individual results to students before the overall results were published in a bid to prevent it overshadowing results day.
Chris Forse, the ESF's acting assistant chief executive, said: 'This is an excellent set of results for our students and students can expect to move in large numbers into their chosen universities and colleges.