The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has said that record A-Level results published today are evidence of a further ‘dumbing-down’ of the system and warned that re-branding the exam would not be enough to plug the skills gap.

The numbers of students gaining a pass at A-Level has once again soared by 0.2 percentage points from 96% to 96.2%

There has also been a rise in the numbers gaining A grades at A Level from 22.4% to 22.8%.

BCC President Bill Midgley commented: “We have significant skills shortages in the UK and we are already lagging behind many of our global competitors. Now our figures show over half of small firms in the service sector have reported facing difficulty recruiting staff with the right skills.”

In reference to last year’s Tomlinson report, Midgley criticised the government for failing to pick up on an opportunity to replace the exam with a single, overarching diploma.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis, however, dismissed the criticisms and said the rising standards were merely the reflection of hard work and improved teaching.

The BCC is calling for a three-step approach to reforming the system to ensure that young people graduate with the skills businesses need.