A-level grades in Bolton were overall lower than the national average, figures released have shown,

Department for Education figures show the average A-level score achieved by pupils in Bolton was 32.8 out of 60 maximum points – a lower result than the average of 34 points in the North West.

But schools and colleges in Bolton celebrated many individual successes, with a large number of students going on to top universities.

Of the 840 students who took A-levels at state-funded Bolton schools and colleges, 8.8 per cent achieved three A* or A grades, 14.1 per cent received AAB or better and 85.1 per cent got at least two A-levels.

With the return to the pre-pandemic grading system, pupils’ average result across the country was 34 – a decrease from 37.7 in 2021-22, but 1.4 points more than in 2018-19, the last full school year before schools moved to online teaching.

Meanwhile, the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students in England stood at 4.9 points, with average scores of 34.7 and 29.8 points, respectively.

The same was true for Bolton, where those better-off received 33.2 points, while their peers from disadvantaged backgrounds scored 30.4 points.

Robert Poole Assistant District Secretary at Bolton’s National Education Union said: “It is concerning that Bolton students continue to lag behind the North West average.

“The persistent gap between Bolton and the regional average suggests that there are underlying issues that need to be addressed.

“I am concerned that central government cuts in addition to local council cuts are leading to a left behind generation.

“In the UK today 27 per cent, nearly four million, of our children are trapped in poverty.

“As educators we know how poverty impacts upon education and limits the life chances of pupils.

“What we need to see is fair funding, increased staffing levels, and targeted support for disadvantaged communities.

“I would call on the government to leave no child behind.

“I would like to commend the hard work and dedication of teachers and support staff in Bolton, who are making a real difference to the lives of their students under such difficult circumstances.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Disadvantaged students do less well in A-levels than other students and are less likely to study for A-levels in the first place.

“The Government has failed to invest sufficiently in education recovery following the pandemic and in schools and colleges in general.

“Policymakers must improve funding rates, address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, make the inspection system less punitive and more supportive, and put an end to child poverty.

“Services like social care and mental health support for young people have also been hugely under-funded over the last decade, and where issues in their lives are not identified and addressed this also affects their learning.

“All this must change if the Government is serious about closing the disadvantage gap.”

A Department for Education spokesperson: “We want to make sure that all young people have the same opportunities they need to succeed.

“Before the pandemic, we closed the disadvantage gap by more than nine per cent – demonstrating that our policies and programmes can make a big impact.

“We are continuing this work through our Recovery Premium, National Tutoring Programme, and the 16-19 Tuition Fund – all of which are focused on helping the most disadvantaged catch up and get ahead with their education.”

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