Schools call for an A-level supergrade

Independent schools are demanding greater differentiation in A-level marks after wide variations within the same grade were revealed.

A new study, compiled by Britain's largest exam board, revealed pupils from private schools are up to five times more likely to achieve top A-level marks than those from state schools.

With 21 per cent of pupils receiving A-grades last year, universities are finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate between top pupils. But if a new supergrade such as an A* were introduced, the gap between state and independently educated pupils would widen even further.

Richard Davidson, of the Independent Schools Council, said there was strong support for new grade benchmarks within the independent sector.

"The grade boundaries certainly at A-grade have got too broad," he said. "It compounds the problems for universities at admission because you can't tell who has just made an A-grade and who are the top performers."

The research, compiled by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, will come as a blow to the Government, which has been accused of failing to introduce an A-plus grade because it might make it more difficult for state school pupils to get into top universities.