EXPECTANT students will discover if their hard work has paid off when A Level results are revealed today.

Schools and colleges across Dorset and the New Forest will see celebrations and possibly some commiserations as hopeful teenagers receive their grades.

It comes amid speculation that fewer pupils may be awarded top grades, due to declines in sciences and humanities scores, with students taking more competitive subjects.

But there is likely to be better news for students who took English and maths, following weaker English results last year, with maths remaining steady.

Exams regulator, Ofqual said more traditional academic subjects have risen in popularity, with more pupils sitting exams in maths, English and the sciences this summer.

This comes after government efforts to encourage pupils to study core academic courses, favoured by elite Russell Group universities.

The number of students taking modern foreign languages has also dropped again, though the once sharp decline in the study of French, Spanish and German appears to be tailing off.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, said: "The publication of this year’s A-levels results will once again be against a backdrop of uncertainty, not only from the impact of recent qualification reforms, but also amidst the now seemingly annual ritual of claims about inaccurate marking and questionable standards.

"Every year young people and teachers who have worked hard throughout the course see their efforts undermined by those who wish to detract from the achievements of our public education system which delivers, year on year, world-class standards of education.

"Teachers and pupils should be congratulated without reservation for what they have achieved.

"Our young people are working hard under tremendous pressure and despite poorly planned reforms, constant criticism, cuts to pay and a rising tide of excessive bureaucracy and workload, teachers are continuing to deliver the best for pupils.

"The results will have been achieved despite the Government’s reforms, not because of them."

The Daily Echo will be at schools and colleges across the region today, speaking to students as they pick up their results.

Full coverage will be on our website, in Friday's paper and in a special 12-page supplement in Saturday's paper.