The A-level gender gap has reversed as boys outperformed girls in top grades for the first time in seven years.
The proportion of boys awarded A or A* this year was 28.4 per cent, 0.2 percentage points higher than the equivalent figure for girls at 28.2 per cent.
Last year, girls across England, Wales and Northern Ireland led boys by 0.4 percentage points - with figures of 28 per cent for girls and 27.7 per cent for boys.
Boys have also extended their lead over girls in the highest grade, A*. The proportion of boys awarded the top grade this year was 9.9 per cent, 0.8 points higher than girls.
Male students have traditionally led girls, scoring more A* grades than their female classmates every year between 2012 and 2019.
