The number of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who achieved top grades in their A-Levels has reached a record high.
Almost 45 per cent achieved either A or A* grades in results released on Tuesday, eclipsing the last year's record of 36.5 per cent.
The numbers could fuel concerns that 2021 would feature rampant grade inflation after exams were cancelled and replaced with assessments by schoolteachers.
With pupils last sitting traditional exams before the pandemic, Tuesday's results mean the number of A and A* grades has increased by 75 per cent.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson commended pupils for their achievements in what he called " a very challenging year".
Grade inflation fears dispelled
Criticism that the record results are not a true barometer of student ability, and will be deemed less credible by employers as no exams were taken, was swiftly rebutted by Joanne Elliott from the National Careers Service.
"I don't know many people who have to do exams as part of their job, unless they have taken part in training," she said. "It could be argued that [teacher-graded assessments] are much closer to what happens in the working environment."
Exams regulator Ofqual also defended accusations of grade inflation.
"We've always said outcomes from this year were likely to be different," said its interim chairman Simon Lebus, as he moved to reassure would-be students, universities and employers that teachers' assessments were fair and could be trusted.
Pressure on universities to meet demand?
It is not only grades that set a record – the number of pupils applying for university also reached a new high.
The combination of record grades and record demand is likely to put pressure on the UK's higher education sector, with 396,000 students already confirmed on their first-choice course – another record.
Ofqual had predicted the scramble for places would mean an unprecedented number of applicants landing places through clearing.
"Are there going to be hotspots potentially where it is much more competitive? Absolutely," its chief executive Clare Marchant.
Universities UK earlier on Tuesday sought to reassure students that increased competition would jeopardise their chances of enrolment.
Alistair Jarvis, the body's chief executive, told the BBC he was confident the "vast majority" would be accepted and that universities were well-prepared for the heightened demand.
Business reacts to bumper year
A-Levels are one farther step along the path to the world of work, and Matthew Fell of the Confederation of British Businesses reacted enthusiastically to the results and the demand for university places, particularly in the Stem subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.
“It’s fantastic to see uptake of maths, computing and sciences increase, with students performing well," he said.
"As digitisation and automation change how we work, equipping young people with these skills will help them to succeed and ensure firms can reap the benefits of new technology.”
Mr Fell had words for encouragement for students who were disappointed with their marks.
“Regardless of the outcome, young people should remember that qualifications are just one of the factors employers look at when recruiting," he said. "Businesses value the resilience students have demonstrated throughout the pandemic enormously, alongside skills like creativity and teamwork."
For students without the grades to enrol at university, there was a reminder from City & Guilds about vocational education.
Young people should "explore all the options open to them", including apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships, it said.
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.
Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Sunday's fixtures
Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
