Michael German AM: "A-level students should be praised"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Aug 2005

The success of A-level students in Wales should be celebrated not undermined by questions about the marking or the credibility of the examination, the AM for South Wales East, Michael German, has said.

Mr. German, was speaking as students were collecting, what are expected to be, another record set of good results. Although trends will not be released until Friday, he believes that the high pass rate of previous years will be sustained and attributes this to high teaching standards and hard work on the part of students. He argues however, that the continuing success of A-level students should not prevent a review of the examinations future to ensure that it continues to be fit for purpose for the 21st Century.

"Although there is a high pass rate, only about one in five of students will achieve the very highest grades," said Michael German. "A-levels continue to grade pupils according to their performance and offer a clear guide to Universities and employers as to who are the most able students. The changing nature of the examination, in which students sit component parts at different stages during the two-year course, means pupils have to work hard all the time. It also means that those who have successfully completed the exam are able to demonstrate to colleges and employers that they have the self-discipline and application needed to be successful in later life."

"The biggest challenge in education of course, is not A-levels but early-years education. Not enough of our pupils are going into post-16 education. That can only be addressed by additional investment in the education of those under 7 to ensure that all pupils have the same opportunities and are sufficiently equipped and motivated to take them."