London–North East A-level Grade Gap Reaches Record High

England's 2026 A-level results, published 13 August, show record top grades nationally. London's A and A* rate hit 32.7%; the north-east and East Midlands each reached about 23.1%. The London–north-east gap widened to 9.6 points, up from 3.9 in 2019. This divide shapes university access and challenges Prime Minister Burnham's regional inequality agenda.