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An 18-year-old firefighter from Carmarthenshire has been balancing his A-level studies with on-call shifts fighting wildfires. Bobi Jones, based in Newcastle Emlyn, described feeling “quite relaxed” about his upcoming results despite managing a demanding schedule. Alongside his A-level exams in business and sport, Bobi is also completing the Welsh Baccalaureate. His school, Ysgol Bro Teifi, has shown considerable flexibility, allowing him to respond to emergency calls during class provided he catches up on missed work later. “The past few months have been very busy with exams and also the fire brigade. We’ve been really busy with fires and wildfires,” he explained, noting that while the situation hasn’t been as severe as in other regions, he frequently dealt with rapidly spreading grass fires.
In addition to Bobi’s story, several other students in Wales are awaiting their A-level results, with many aiming for university admission. A-level results began releasing from 08:00 BST on Thursday, though specific timings depend on individual schools and colleges. The range of qualifications being announced includes AS levels, BTecs, and vocational certifications. Data shows that this year, the proportion of top A* grades increased slightly to 10.5%, while 29.5% of grades were either A or A*, a decrease compared to previous years. University applications from Welsh 18-year-olds reached 32.8% by the end of June, a figure that has risen modestly but remains lower than other UK nations.
Other young people preparing for results day include Rosa MacGowan, who juggled four A-levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate along with a part-time job. Rosa, from Swansea, hopes to study medicine at the University of Glasgow, with pharmacy at Newcastle as her insurance choice. “I think both of these courses should have good career prospects, and lots of interesting opportunities,” she said, adding she felt “positive about the future” despite being nervous about the results. Meanwhile, William Hopkins, who has been involved with Army cadets for six years, completed A-levels alongside a BTEC in Uniformed Protective Services. He aspires to become an officer in the Army or Royal Marines, motivated by family tradition and his passion for new challenges. “Even if I don’t get into the Army I know I will land on my feet somewhere else,” he shared.
There are also changes in subject popularity among students, with maths, biology, chemistry, and psychology still ranking highest. Notably, provisional figures for 2026 show significant drops in entries for computer science (-14.9%), Spanish (-12.9%), and drama and theatre (-8.2%). Conversely, entries in English language and literature rose by 23.3%, Welsh language courses surged by 42.7%, and German saw a 59.4% increase from a smaller base. Despite these shifts, fewer 16-year-olds in Wales are progressing to study A-levels since 2014/15; current data indicates that less than half move on to AS courses compared with 60% in 2014/15. Bethan Evans from Medr, the body overseeing post-16 education in Wales, noted this decline has accelerated since the Covid pandemic but emphasized the increased variety of educational pathways now available. She highlighted that more young people are opting for vocational qualifications as an alternative route. The broader context includes challenges such as a “lost generation” facing shrinking work and training opportunities, with 17% of 16- to
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