A*

It seemed to go like this:Seaweed sandwiches, sharpened pencils, conditional tenses, and father's bedtime stories – A*.

A* grades for the kids, a big F for their teacher – me 2011

He said that GCSEs were not stretching enough, with too many candidates awarded A and A* grades.

Gove orders inquiry into exams advice given to teachers 2011

In the GSA results, 61.9% of grades for combined sciences were at A and A*, and the A* pass rate for maths was 48.6%.

A-level results: gap may have widened between state and private 2011

At secondary school, only 57% of young people achieved five A*–C grades in maths at GCSE and only 27% of young people on free school meals achieved five A*–C grades including maths and English.

Half of pupils are being consigned 'to the scrapheap' by schools 2011

The Girls' School Association, which represents heads of independent girls' schools, said that of the first schools to announce their results, 32.9% of grades awarded were at A* level and 70% at A and A*.

A-level results: gap may have widened between state and private 2011

Last year, the only universities to require an A* were Imperial, Cambridge, UCL and Warwick.

A-level results: gap may have widened between state and private 2011

But you can't have schools where only 30% of the pupils are getting five GCSEs A* to C.

How do we make our schools fit to face the 21st century? 2011

To achieve the Ebacc, a pupil must score an A* to C grade in English, maths, at least two sciences, history or geography and a modern or classical language.

MPs, teachers and academics criticise education reform plan 2011

In last year's results, for all private schools, 17.9% of entries were awarded an A* and just over half secured the two top grades.

A-level results: gap may have widened between state and private 2011

The A* grade is being used to discriminate between the best candidates at an increased number of universities this year.

A-level results: gap may have widened between state and private 2011