{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/9475d117-fcd4-4915-a6f3-923941e7aa0d/64de301aa136c90011a01e58?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"A-levels 'record plunge' causes clearing frenzy","description":"<p><a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/a-levels-results-day-latest-2023-clearing-pass-fail-rates-grade-inflation-b1101183.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Top grades plunge by record 25% as pre-pandemic grading standards return.</a> 2023 A-levels cohort called ‘the unluckiest year’. Approximately 19,000 expected to secure their place through clearing. Our <a href=\"https://www.standard.co.uk/author/anna-davis\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Education Editor Anna Davis</a> examines the drop in top grades this year, and whether the return to pre-pandemic grading came at the right time. In this episode:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>What does the return to ‘pre-pandemic grading’ mean?</li><li>Should the change have happened this early?</li><li>Why Education Minister Gillian Keegan said we need to ‘protect the value’ of grades&nbsp;</li><li>Are we expecting a ‘clearing frenzy’?</li><li>Why next year’s cohort face even tougher exams</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Follow us<a href=\"https://twitter.com/EveningStandard\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> on Twitter</a> or<a href=\"https://www.threads.net/@evening.standard\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> on Threads</a>.</p>","author_name":"The Evening Standard"}