SUBSTANTIAL regional disparities persisted in today’s record-breaking A-level results, sparking fresh union calls for greater support for disadvantaged communities.

The proportion of sixth-formers achieving the top grades rose for the third year in a row, likely driven by the popularity of maths and students scoring highly in it.

But the East Midlands missed out on the otherwise positive national trend with only 23.1 per cent of its candidates gaining A*s and As in their A-level subjects, dropping it to last place among England’s regions alongside the north-east. Nearly a third of London’s candidates achieved the top grades.

Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said: “These results are clearly affected by relative levels of socioeconomic disadvantage and reflect the structural inequalities which exist in our nation.

“Every year we say that we cannot go on like this and that as a society we must do more to support communities which often feel abandoned and neglected. When will we actually do that?”

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Looking at results amongst groups of students today, it is important to recognise the barriers to learning created by poverty, deprivation and regional inequality in our country.  

“Schools do everything they can to respond to poverty, but the pressures and strains on schools in areas of disadvantage must be addressed by Andy Burnham’s government, including all our schools and colleges to be properly funded.”

University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady said: “The government has vowed to tackle the Neet crisis, but this can only be done by addressing the injustices that are hardwired into the education system.”