The exam season is almost upon us and while some commentators may be getting ready to rehash the old arguments about whether these exams are getting easier, here at Learning Plus UK we have been looking at the facts behind the rhetoric.

This month we have been examining the relationship between a student’s academic performance at GCSE and at A-Level, and specifically how students with five  A*-C GCSE’s (including English and Maths) fare, compared to those that do not.

Our analysis shows that overall almost two thirds (65%) of students with five or more  A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths), will achieve three or more A-Levels, but just over one in 10 (12%) of students without these qualifications will achieve the same result.

More worrying are the regional discrepancies our research has revealed. In London, almost seven out of 10 (69%) of students with five A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths) got three or more A-Levels, but that figure drops to two out of ten (15%) for students without that number of GCSEs. Although the A-Level attainment rates for students with GCSEs remains consistent around the country, with regional figures ranging from 59% to 69%, this varies significantly across the country.

In the West Midlands, six out of ten (59%) of students with five A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths) got three or more A-Levels, but just one in ten (10%) of students without accomplished the same feat.

The figure for students with less than five A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths) getting three A-Levels ranged from 10% to 15% across England.

This research also highlights the need for greater understanding of the Key Stage 4 and English and Maths in particular in contributing towards Post-16 success at A level. We cannot afford to let bright and able students fall through the cracks simply because they did not perform well at GCSEs or because they are studying in a particular region. More needs to be done to help students at the earliest stage in their studies to ensure they get the exam grades they deserve and recognise the value of their learning.

With more students entering further education, the raising of the participation age to 18 by 2015 and public sector spending cuts, colleges and sixth forms will be under even greater pressures in the years to come. If only one in 10 students with less than five GCSES are gaining three A-Levels at the moment, we have to ask what will happen in three years time when even more pupils will be put forward to take these exams? And with the Government's emphasis on the importance of English and Maths GCSE, will we be witnessing a creation of Post-16 as two years of resits?

If sixth forms and colleges are to ensure that every student coming through their doors gets the education they need, then they will have to monitor their performance very closely and offer them support at every stage.

This will require time, energy and a commitment to long-term planning, combined with an understanding of what data shows. Getting young people on the righ programmes so they can success will be key. Our future look at some of the big numbers in the education sector will hep to hghlight some of the key issues that the sector is facing.

Click here to view the Big Numbers infographic