The following chart from the excellent Reform shows the A Level pass rate compared to that of the IB- the International Baccalaureate- which as we know is set and marked by a non-profit organisation in Switzerland, and which is being adopted by increasing numbers of private schools:
And the next chart, also from Reform, shows the results of a detailed academic study tracking A Level grades (measured in UCAS points) achieved by pupils of similar ability (TDA score*) between 1988 and 2004:
As we can see, all lines soar upwards. The researchers conclude "that pupils of the same ability achieved between one-and-a-half grades and three grades higher in 2004 than they would have achieved in 1988".
For taxpayers the lesson is clear: no matter how much of our money they spend on education, politicians cannot be trusted to maintain output standards. And for the kids who are persuaded they're too smart to go plumbing we can only cross our fingers. Maybe they could become Schools Ministers.
*Footnote: the analysis of A Level scores by ability group is taken from "Standards in English schools: changes since 1997 and the impact of government policies and initiatives" by Professor Peter Tymms, Dr Robert Coe and Dr Christine Merrell, CEM Centre, University of Durham, April 2005. Their measure of ability is the Test of Developed Abilities (TDA) which measures the ability and knowledge of A Level students.
Update- useful facts and quotes on 2006 results here.