Cardiff students celebrate a boost in top A-Level grades

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-13 19:07 3 min read

Students in academic regalia throwing graduation caps into the air at a ceremony.

By Beehiveweb News Desk
Published 13 August 2026
Source: Cardiff Council Newsroom

More than one in three Cardiff A-Level entries received an A* or A grade this year, according to provisional results released on Thursday. Cardiff Council said 35.4% of its A-Level grades were at the top two grades, compared with a Welsh average of 29.6%.

For students opening their results, the figures sit alongside decisions about university, further education, apprenticeships, training and work. The council said learners across the city had again achieved results above the Welsh average.

Cardiff’s provisional results in figures

Cardiff recorded 98.4% of entries at grades A* to E, against a Welsh average of 97.7%, the council said. The figures relate to provisional WJEC GCE A-Level and AS Level results.

The 35.4% top-grade share is the clearest indicator in the release: it represents the proportion of entries awarded either A* or A. It does not show how individual schools performed, nor does it determine the next step for any individual student.

Students also received outcomes for the Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. The qualification is described as equivalent in size and demand to an A-Level and focuses on demonstrating embedded skills. Many higher education institutions recognise it either alongside, or in place of, traditional GCE A-Level grades.

Results reflect work by students and school staff

Cardiff Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, congratulated students and thanked teachers, school leaders and support staff.

She said students’ determination and resilience had paid off, adding that strong results had been recorded across the city. The council said pupils are now moving on to a range of destinations, including higher and further education, apprenticeships, training and employment.

Why the Welsh comparison needs care

The council’s release reports Cardiff’s results against Welsh averages, but also includes an important limitation. WJEC is not publishing Wales-wide comparator data solely for WJEC entries this year.

National figures covering all awarding bodies are available, while equivalent local-authority and school-level comparisons are not published. That means the headline percentages are useful for understanding Cardiff’s reported outcomes, but they should not be treated as a like-for-like ranking of every local authority or school in Wales.

All results statistics remain provisional.

Cardiff’s next-step support for 16 to 24-year-olds

Young people considering their options can use the Cardiff Commitment’s What’s Next platform, which brings education, training, employment and enterprise information together for people aged 16 to 24.

The platform covers further and higher education, apprenticeships, traineeships, internships, volunteering, jobs and starting a business, helping students compare the routes available after receiving their A-Level results.

Source: Cardiff Council Newsroom

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and results notes

This report is based on Cardiff Council’s 13 August 2026 release and preserves its stated limits on comparisons.

Checks

Checked the reported A*–A share for Cardiff: 35.4%.
Checked the reported A*–E entry rate for Cardiff: 98.4%.
Confirmed that the results are provisional WJEC GCE A-Level and AS Level figures.
Included the council’s caveat that direct local-authority and national comparisons are lim...

Cardiff Council Newsroom Check related coverage