Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, has said that regional differences in A Level results should be explored by the government as a priority if its proposals for devolution are to be a success.

London continues to pull ahead of other regions with its A Level results, with 32.7% of pupils in the capital receiving grades at A or above, up from 31.9% last year.

The gap between London and the North East was 3.9 percentage points in 2019 before the pandemic, and it now stands at 9.6 percentage points.

Paul Whiteman said: “Regional disparities in A level grades remain a concern. While it is hard to pinpoint the reasons for this, levels of poverty, varying investment into education, health, social care and other support services and infrastructure, and the lingering impact of the pandemic, may all have a part to play.

“This isn’t an issue that arises overnight when students start sixth form or college, but can be baked in from a young age. That is why it’s vital the government maintains a strong focus on, and investment in, the early years, as well as in addressing the root causes and impact of poverty.

"It will also be crucial that the government’s proposals for devolution and its role in shaping new technical education pathways, are developed closely with the profession, and serve to close rather than exacerbate attainment gaps between different parts of the country. Schools’ and colleges’ ability to offer a range of opportunities which cater for young people’s needs and interests should not be constrained by a lack of resources or where they are based.

“The government’s moves to emphasise the value of vocational and technical routes, are welcome. But if these qualifications are to have true parity, it should work with Ofqual to ensure regional data and analysis includes VTQs, and that separate breakdowns are published for these valuable qualifications.

“While that may not be easy, it would allow a better understanding of entrenched regional differences, and should be explored as a priority.”

Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said: "These results reveal an increasingly stark regional divide, as London continues to pull further ahead of the rest of England. The attainment gap has grown between London and the North East and East Midlands, the two lowest performing regions. But so has the gap between London the second best performing region, the South East. A young person’s chances shouldn’t depend so heavily on where they go to school, and these results underline the need for concerted action to tackle the attainment gap and regional differences across England."