Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, Tristram Hunt MP, responding to the publication of AS and A level results said:

“For thousands of people across the country, today brings the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. Congratulations to all of those who have got the grades that will take them on to the next chapter in their lives.

“But under David Cameron there are fewer opportunities for young people, with the decision to scrap the link between AS and A level qualifications reducing opportunities for many young people who want to go to university. This Government also has no plan whatsoever for the forgotten 50 per cent of young people not choosing that route – we need more options for university-level vocational study so more young people can take qualifications that help them into the labour market.

“We need to ensure our qualifications are rigorous and fair and, as Secretary of State, I would insist on nothing less. So I would stop this Tory plan to scrap the link between AS and A levels, which would leave young people without the opportunity to reach the highest standards and realise their full potential.

“We also need to encourage more girls to take the subjects employers tell us are needed to fill skills gaps, including physics, maths and computing. The number of young women taking these subjects is still too low and we are wasting their potential in these crucial subjects as a result.”