London–North East A-level grade gap hits record 9.6 points as national top grades peak

England's 2026 A-level results, published 13 August, show record A and A* grades nationwide. London's top-grade rate rose to 32.7%, while the north-east reached roughly 23.1% and the East Midlands fell to 23.1%. The London–north-east gap widened to 9.6 points, up from 3.9 in 2019. The divide shapes university access and tests Prime Minister Burnham's regional inequality agenda.