Key Points
- Students in Cardiff were delighted with their excellent academic performance following the official announcement of provisional results of the WJEC GCE A-Levels and AS Levels.
- The educational establishments of Cardiff have achieved higher standards than the national one, with 35.4% of the local entries getting the highest grades of A*-A against 29.6% in the broader Welsh average.
- Success rates stayed very high in the Welsh capital, with 98.4% of the total number of entries obtaining the grades from A* to E above the national average of 97.7%.
- Students in Cardiff also obtained their results in the Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, which is an alternative and equally demanding qualification to a regular A-Level.
- Cardiff City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, expressed her appreciation of the dedication, perseverance, and effort put in by students and teachers in Cardiff.
- Young people in the area have been advised to use the digital platform ‘What’s Next’ developed within the Cardiff Commitment programme to explore further education and career opportunities.
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) October 21, 2026 – Students across Cardiff are celebrating today as A-Level and AS Level results are released, with the city once again achieving results above the Welsh average. Provisional WJEC GCE figures show that 35.4% of local entries secured A-A grades, while overall pass rates reached 98.4% for grades A-E. Educational leaders have commended the resilience and perseverance demonstrated by learners, teachers, and support personnel throughout the academic cycle.
How Did Cardiff Students Perform In The 2026 A-Level Examinations?
Educational outcomes across the Welsh capital have exceeded national performance indicators once again, bringing widespread jubilation to school halls, sixth-form colleges, and family homes throughout Cardiff. As reported by Niki Favorido of Herald.Wales, provisional WJEC GCE results indicate that local academic standards have remained robust and resilient in the face of ongoing educational shifts. Specifically, 35.4% of all A-Level grades awarded to Cardiff students attained the highest bracket of A*-A. This figure stands noticeably above the wider Welsh national average, which settled at 29.6% for the same assessment period.
Furthermore, breadth of achievement across the city remains impressive. When evaluating overall pass rates spanning grades A* through E, Cardiff students recorded a success rate of 98.4%. This performance edges past the national Welsh average of 97.7%. In addition to conventional GCE subjects, students throughout the area received outcomes for the Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. This contemporary qualification carries a size and academic demand equivalent to a standard A-Level, focusing heavily on equipping learners with integrated, practical competencies valued by employers and universities alike.
What Statements Were Issued By Educational Leaders In Response To The Results?
The release of examination outcomes prompted widespread praise from municipal authorities and educational administrators, who underscored the immense commitment shown by both students and teaching personnel. As reported by Niki Favorido of Herald.Wales, Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, offered her congratulations to the cohort.
Cllr Sarah Merry stated that
“Today is a significant achievement for our young people and I would like to congratulate every student receiving their results.”
Expanding on the broader context of the cohort’s performance, Cllr Sarah Merry stated that
“Their determination, resilience and hard work have paid off, and it is particularly pleasing to see Cardiff once again outperforming the Welsh average, with strong results being recorded across the city.”
Addressing the future trajectories of the graduating students, Cllr Sarah Merry stated that
“Whether students are progressing to university, further education, apprenticeships, training or employment, we wish them every success as they take the next step towards their future goals.”
In addition, Cllr Sarah Merry acknowledged the workforce supporting these achievements, stating that
“I would also like to thank the dedicated teachers, school leaders and support staff whose commitment continues to help learners achieve their potential.”
Finally, highlighting available resources for candidates weighing their options, Cllr Sarah Merry stated that
“For anyone considering their next move, a wide range of advice and opportunities can be found through the What’s Next platform, which provides practical information to help young people explore the options available to them.”
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What Guidance And Resources Are Available For Students Navigating Their Next Steps?
Navigating the post-results landscape can present complex choices for young people as they transition into higher education, vocational training, or the professional workforce. To streamline this transition, educational authorities in the capital have actively promoted dedicated advisory networks designed to support youth development. As highlighted by Niki Favorido of Herald.Wales, young people looking for guidance on their next steps can access the digital ‘What’s Next’ platform.
The platform has been specifically designed to cater to individuals aged 16 to 24, consolidating vital information regarding education, structured training schemes, employment vacancies, and entrepreneurial enterprise opportunities into a single, accessible hub. This initiative was developed through the collaborative framework of the Cardiff Commitment, a strategic partnership that brings together public sector organisations, private enterprises, voluntary groups, schools, and higher education providers.
The primary objective of the Cardiff Commitment and its associated online portal is to connect children and young people directly with the diverse array of pathways accessible within the modern economy. The web portal offers comprehensive advice regarding further and higher education institutions, formal apprenticeships, traineeships, professional internships, structured volunteering opportunities, direct employment vacancies, and resources for individuals interested in launching their own business ventures.
Background
The release of A-Level results represents a critical annual milestone within the United Kingdom’s educational calendar, dictating university admissions pipelines, vocational placements, and regional workforce development metrics. In recent years, educational authorities across Wales have implemented curriculum modernisations, including the integration of the Curriculum for Wales and supplementary qualifications like the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate, designed to foster critical thinking, digital literacy, and applied vocational skills alongside traditional academic study. Cardiff has consistently maintained high participation and achievement rates compared to national baselines, driven by collaborative municipal interventions such as the Cardiff Commitment, which was established to bridge the structural gap between secondary education, higher learning, and regional employment sectors.
This sustained outperformance in Cardiff’s A-Level results is expected to generate significant positive momentum for local students, higher education institutions, and regional employers within South Wales. For prospective university applicants and school leavers, securing grades above the national average enhances institutional competitiveness, potentially driving higher acceptance rates into Russell Group and premier universities. For the local economy and employers across Cardiff, the influx of high-achieving, skilled candidates—bolstered by both traditional GCE subjects and practical Advanced Skills Baccalaureate credentials—promises a robust pipeline of talent entering apprenticeships, technical training schemes, and professional services. However, this high concentration of successful candidates may also heighten competition for competitive local entry-level jobs and regional student housing, increasing pressure on municipal policymakers to expand infrastructural support, youth employment initiatives, and transitional advisory frameworks through platforms like the Cardiff Commitment.
