this is bbc news, these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high, with 44.8% getting a* or a grades. the education secretary said it's been an exceptional year. this cohort of sheilas have had to deal with a level of disruption that no one has ever seen before, not even during a world war as a result of this pandemic. and it is right that we take the unprecedented steps. firefighters from across europe

head to greece, to help battle wildfires on evia, the country's second largest island. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around £7 million from the failed finance company greensill. scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day, rather than the many months it often currently takes. london's tower bridge has reopened to traffic overnight after becoming stuck due to a technical problem. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. a woman from the us has filed a civil lawsuit in new york, accusing prince andrew

of sexual abuse. in a statement, virginia roberts giuffre claims she was trafficked to the prince by the convicted paedophilejeffrey epstein, when she was 17. the duke of york has consistently denied the allegations. in november 2019, newsnight�*s emily maitlis spoke to prince andrew about ms giuffre�*s allegations. do you remember meeting her at all? no. you can say categorically that you do not recall meeting virginia roberts, dining with her... yep. — ..dancing with her at tramp... yep. ..or going on to have sex with her... yes. ..in a bedroom at a house in belgravia? i can absolutely, categorically, tell you it never happened. - do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts then or at any other time? none whatsoever.

let's talk to news correspondent bradley blackburn, who was in new york and joins us now. what does virginia roberts giuffre say? she sa 5 that virginia roberts giuffre say? she says that she _ virginia roberts giuffre say? evie: says that she was virginia roberts giuffre say? me: says that she was trafficked virginia roberts giuffre say? sie: says that she was trafficked to the prince and the sexually abused by him. virginia roberts giuffre has made these claims and interviews before, but this is now in court filings here in new york. they mentioned three separate occasions dating back to 2001 and 2002, she was 17 at the time and says prince andrew forced her to "engage in sex acts against her will." at an incident injeffrey epstein�*s incident in jeffrey epstein�*s mansion incident injeffrey epstein�*s mansion in new york city for some she also claims she was forced to have intercourse with andrew against her will at a separate incident in london. she says she is filing this lawsuit because she now wants to hold the prince accountable. what hold the prince accountable. what about the timing? _ hold the prince accountable. what about the timing? why _ hold the prince accountable. what about the timing? why is - hold the prince accountable. what about the timing? why is she doing it now? , ., , about the timing? why is she doing it now? , . , ., about the timing? why is she doing it now? , ., , ., ., , it now? this lawsuit would have been im ossible it now? this lawsuit would have been impossible with _ it now? this lawsuit would have been impossible with the _ it now? this lawsuit would have been impossible with the statute _ it now? this lawsuit would have been impossible with the statute of - impossible with the statute of limitations, but a 2019 law changed

the rules creating a window to allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims regardless of when the abuse was alleged to have occurred. virginia roberts giuffre is filing just before the deadline, the window closes on august 1a. she is being represented in this case by a high—powered attorney, you might remember he represented vice president al gore in the landmark supreme court decision that decided the presidency in 2000.1rufe supreme court decision that decided the presidency in 2000.— the presidency in 2000. we heard prince andrew _ the presidency in 2000. we heard prince andrew speaking _ the presidency in 2000. we heard prince andrew speaking out - the presidency in 2000. we heard prince andrew speaking out in - the presidency in 2000. we heard l prince andrew speaking out in 2019, but has there been any response yet from prince andrew or buckingham palace? ., , ~ ., palace? nothing new yet. again, the prince has flatly _ palace? nothing new yet. again, the prince has flatly denied _ palace? nothing new yet. again, the prince has flatly denied her- prince has flatly denied her accusations in the past. he played a clip of that interview where he says categorically that this never happened, and he said that he has no recollection of ever even meeting virginia roberts giuffre. but there are apparently photos of the two of them together with ghislaine maxwell, that is eckstein�*s former girlfriend who is also accused of trafficking underage girls. bradley

blackburn at _ trafficking underage girls. bradley blackburn at cbs, _ trafficking underage girls. bradley blackburn at cbs, thanks - trafficking underage girls. bradley blackburn at cbs, thanks very - trafficking underage girls. bradley i blackburn at cbs, thanks very much. earlier, we got the thoughts of the media lawyer mark stephens. under american law, slightly surprisingly, sexual conduct against a child has a limitation act of five years. and as it was said in the report earlier, under a piece of legislation, the child victims act in new york, they gave a window of opportunity to allow people to have a pathway to justice, because obviously it takes people who are underage much longer to come to terms and perhaps report the crimes that they say have been committed against them. but that window closes on saturday the 14th of august, so if this claim was going to be launched, it had to be launched before next saturday. and, really, ithink, it is a case which is preserving virginia giuffre's rights, but it is also heaping public pressure and potentially opprobrium on prince andrew. but there is a sort of intervening

fact which i think has been a little overlooked in this, which is that under international law, criminal cases must go forward in advance of civil cases. and of course, this is a civil case, and we know that american law enforcement are still wanting to interview prince andrew in relation to their criminal case. and therefore i think that this case is very likely to be stayed, and indeed that plays into prince andrew's hand, because of course his lawyers' approach to this will be to stall and prevaricate and to fight over every legal nicety they can, in order to proclude the prince having to give an account of himself before the us courts. mark stevens there. there's been a sharp increase

in the top grades awarded at a—level after a second year of disruption caused by covid—19 pandemic. nearly 45% received as and a*s in england, wales and northern ireland. that's up from 38.5% last year, an increase of 6.3%. today. this years grades represent a 75% increase. the education secretary has urged against talking down their achievements. vocational btec results are also out today. students will also find the results for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.

and in scotland, students will be finding out how they did in their highers and national 5s. this report now from our education correspondent, elaine bentley. in loughborough, shefali and finn say dealing with the disruption, constant assessment and the fear that their grades are not seen as valid has been tough. there has been more stress on me than an exam would, because in an exam you take it in one sitting, and you cannot go back to it and the rest is out of your control. there is a lot of talk about the issue of grade inflation, and i appreciate that is a real concern. but ultimately in the circumstances that have prevailed, the alternative would not have been fair and it would not have been feasible. so i am confident in myself, and i think future employers will be, that given how exceptional this year was, it is the best result and the best approach we could have had. with exams cancelled, ensuring fairness has been a challenge. students have been assessed only on what they have been taught. the pandemic has also put

pressure on teachers, who need to provide evidence for every grade that has been awarded. the teachers themselves had to do that marking, and then feed that marking into the grading meetings. the grading meetings are a significant unit of work in themselves. hours of meetings discussing grades, grade boundaries and students and their individual circumstances. and defending those grades as we determine them and ensure that we can evidence them. so, a huge amount of work. the government says one in five schools have had a sample of their grades checked by exam boards. what we need to do this year is just make sure that we focus on has happened now, and that we are giving absolute confidence to young people that their efforts have been worthwhile, and the exam results they get today are a fair reflection of their ability. and they can go with pride to the next step in their educational or into the employment market. a—level students in wales and northern ireland will also get their grades today. in scotland, higher and national

results will also be confirmed. students may not have sat traditional exams, but the pandemic has been a test on many levels. elaine dunkley, bbc news in loughborough. more than 435,000 students have been accepted on university courses this year, up 5% on last year. the education secretary gavin williamson said he expected all students going to university will expect a return to face—to—face teaching following a year of online learning because of the pandemic. we have been absolutely clear with universities, it is absolutely safe and 0k to do face—to—face teaching, whether that is tutorials and lectures. i want to see that happen at universities. i don't have as many direct powers over universities as we do over schools, but the office for students, which is the regulator, is clear that we want to have high—quality teaching. for me, a key element of high—quality teaching is about being in the lecture theatre, being with your peers,

the socialising and the discussion that goes on there. of course, we have all discovered we can do so much of this on teams and zoom, but there is nothing like being there in person. let's hear about results from northern ireland from our correspondent chris page who's in lurgan. a very good morning to you. is it a good morning for those students behind you as well? it certainly seems to be. this is one of the biggest days in the lives of these students here at saint ronan�*s couegein students here at saint ronan�*s college in logan county armagh. you can certainly feel the nerves and the excitement and joy as you can see pupils being handed the envelopes containing the results here in the school hall. across northern ireland today, 25,000 pupils are receiving their a—level results, and it has been a record—breaking year. almost 51% of

entries have achieved the top eight or a star grades. let's talk to a couple of the stars of the show today. thanks for talking to us on bbc news. how has it gone for you this morning? i bbc news. how has it gone for you this morning?— bbc news. how has it gone for you this morning? i am buzzing. i am so leased this morning? i am buzzing. i am so pleased with — this morning? i am buzzing. i am so pleased with my _ this morning? i am buzzing. i am so pleased with my results. _ this morning? i am buzzing. i am so pleased with my results. can - this morning? i am buzzing. i am so pleased with my results. can you i pleased with my results. can you share the grades with us. i did history religion and english a—level stop history religion and english a-level sto ; ., , history religion and english a-level sto ; . , ., history religion and english a-level sto_ . , ., i. history religion and english a-level sto_ . , ., y., ., �*, stop what is next for you? queen's university belfast _ stop what is next for you? queen's university belfast will _ stop what is next for you? queen's university belfast will benefit - stop what is next for you? queen's university belfast will benefit from j university belfast will benefit from the hard work over the years. many congratulations. how has it been for you? congratulations. how has it been for ou? �* , , ., ., i, you? i'm very proud of myself. i have worked _ you? i'm very proud of myself. i have worked very _ you? i'm very proud of myself. i have worked very hard. - you? i'm very proud of myself. i have worked very hard. i - you? i'm very proud of myself. i have worked very hard. i did - you? i'm very proud of myself. i - have worked very hard. i did biology and chemistry. three a stars. because _ and chemistry. three a stars. because not have done any better. many congratulations to you also. where do you go from here and what

are your plans? i where do you go from here and what are your plans?— are your plans? i was a gap year first and then _ are your plans? i was a gap year first and then study _ are your plans? i was a gap year first and then study pharmacy i are your plans? i was a gap year first and then study pharmacy at queens — first and then study pharmacy at queens next year. quite what you are heading _ queens next year. quite what you are heading for— queens next year. quite what you are heading for pharmacy, but one year before you — heading for pharmacy, but one year before you take up your place, this last year— before you take up your place, this last year and a half has been very different— last year and a half has been very different for all of us, probably down _ different for all of us, probably down the — different for all of us, probably down the years you were talking about _ down the years you were talking about whether to do a—levels, it has turned _ about whether to do a—levels, it has turned out _ about whether to do a—levels, it has turned out to be a bit different. what _ turned out to be a bit different. what are — turned out to be a bit different. what are the thoughts and experiences you have had and what is still to come for you? it experiences you have had and what is still to come for you?— still to come for you? it has obviously — still to come for you? it has obviously been _ still to come for you? it has obviously been very - still to come for you? it has obviously been very hard i still to come for you? it has| obviously been very hard not still to come for you? it has - obviously been very hard not knowing what is _ obviously been very hard not knowing what is coming next. you obviously been very hard not knowing what is coming next.— what is coming next. you have been head airl what is coming next. you have been head girl at — what is coming next. you have been head girl at saint _ what is coming next. you have been head girl at saint ronan _ what is coming next. you have been head girl at saint ronan is _ what is coming next. you have been head girl at saint ronan is the i head girl at saint ronan is the last year, a year like no other has been —— as many people have been saying. all the to zoom classes and google classes and everything has lead up to this moment. i am so proud to see

everyone here with their results. what are your hopes for university? that it is as normal as possible? i would like a bit more face—to—face teaching, but nothing is guaranteed. a new start would be nice. you teaching, but nothing is guaranteed. a new start would be nice.— a new start would be nice. you will be going to — a new start would be nice. you will be going to queen's _ a new start would be nice. you will be going to queen's university i be going to queen's university belfast in 2022, another year after covid. presumably you are hoping that that state it will be well in the past. that that state it will be well in the ast. ., the past. face-to-face teaching and eve hinu the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back _ the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back to _ the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back to the _ the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back to the way - the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back to the way it - the past. face-to-face teaching and everything back to the way it should j everything back to the way it should be, that— everything back to the way it should be, that would be nice. all everything back to the way it should be, that would be nice.— be, that would be nice. all the very best for your _ be, that would be nice. all the very best for your futures, _ be, that would be nice. all the very best for your futures, which - be, that would be nice. all the very best for your futures, which are i best for your futures, which are sure to be stellar. grace to be talking to both of you. here at saint ronan's, as you can see, there is a real buzz in the hall. people are receiving their a—level results, also exam results, and be tax being awarded here in northern ireland. —— btecs being awarded. 45% of the top

grades, this year it is almost 51% of entries achieving an ace star or an a. also at as—level, 75%, and three quarters of entries have achieved a top letter a or b grade. plenty to be celebrated. many thanks, chris. the headlines on bbc news... a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high — with 44.8% getting a* or a grades. firefighters from across europe head to greece to help battle wildfires on evia, the country's second largest island. greece's prime minister has apologised for failures in tackling

the wildfires tearing across the country. hundreds of firefighters have been battling huge blazes that have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and destroyed dozens of properties. thick smoke is still pouring off the island of evia, north—east of athens, which has been ablaze for a week. simonjones reports. a natural fury without precedent. that's how the greek prime minister has described the wildfires that have caused so much devastation. the battle to contain them continues on the island of evia. more than 500 blazes have broken out across the country in recent days. firefighters have been joined by local residents trying to make the area safe. climate change is real and the heat, the heat wave affected this. we didn't see any rain to stop this fire. i used to run in this forest. i used to cycle. we used to go and collect fruits.

now everything is gone. where the fires have been contained, it's now a case of counting the cost to the environment and to property. homes ruined, residents and holidaymakers forced to flee. in athens, protests. these demonstrators say the government hadn't done enough to prepare for such a disaster. the prime minister has promised more money to tackle the fires and their aftermath. translation: it's obvious | that the climate crisis is now knocking on the door of the entire planet, with fires that last weeks. this is a reason, but it's not an excuse nor an alibi. and i will say it clearly. we may have done whatever is humanly possible, but in many cases that did not appear to be enough in the unequal battle with nature. the eu is mobilising what it calls one of the biggest common firefighting operations

ever to help greece. but it is clear there will be many more difficult days ahead. simon jones, bbc news. 0ur correspondent bethany bell is on island of evia, one of the worst—hit areas. here on the island of evia, the situation appears to be somewhat stabilising. 0vernight, the wind has dropped and that has made the task of fighting these fires easier for the fire crews who have been working such long hours to try to bring these blazes under control. it has been eight days now that the fires have been raging out of control here on the island, causing disruption, making people leave their homes, leave their hotels. and we have seen local volunteers going to the front line of the fire with anything they can to try to extinguish it. we have seen people bringing their tractors with trucks with any kind of tank of water that they can put on it. and even taking little fire

extinguishers that people have in their homes or hotels, they have been those fire extinguishers, trying to put out the fire any way they can. desperate to try to save their forests, their homes and their property. and this is something that they are really hoping now will see the end of it. this has been, for the whole of greece, in the words of the prime minister, a nightmare of a summer. bethany fell there. david cameron made around £7 million from greensill capital before the controversial finance company collapsed earlier this year, that's according to documents obtained by bbc panorama. the former prime minister had lobbied the government on behalf of the company, which made its money by lending to businesses, and has repeatedly refused to tell mps what he was paid by greensill. a spokesman for mr cameron said his remuneration was a private matter. let's get more from our political

correspondent damian grammaticas. this is a complicated story, so i wonder whether you could remind us of the background and perhaps what panorama has discovered that is new. this has put the spotlight on both mr cameron, the former prime minister, and his company greensill capital. mr cameron when he left office went to work for greensill capital part—time as an adviser. thatin capital part—time as an adviser. that in itself has raised questions because the company was run by someone who mr cameron had been brought in to advise mr cameron in government. there were already close ties was that he went to work the greensill who runs greensill capital. the first thing panorama has put a focus on was the amount of money mr cameron made. panorama has put that from documents it has seen at around £7 million before tax for

2.5 years of part—time work, a substantial amount of money. based on both shares that the former prime minister, the letter indicates he sold those shares, cashed in a lot of money off that. about £1 million or $1 million a year of salary that he was paid, a bonus on top of that. mr cameron's spokesman has said he did not receive anything like that and it was a private matter. separate two that are also questions then about the lobbying that mr cameron did for the firm, and that included a sort of sequence of messages, phone calls, attempts to lobby ministers and civil servants early last year. 56 messages i think it was in total, including to the chancellor, the bank of england. that was at a time when this finance company greensill capital was in trouble and was looking for money.

it was looking for access to government loans. at the time, one of its biggest firms that it was lending to coolly g f group, run by sanjiv doctor, involving sa njiv doctor, involving steel—making, sanjiv doctor, involving steel—making, there were problems in that business. mr cameron was lobbying the bank of england, the bank of england did not get involved. but separately, the large business loan scheme that the government had at the time did agree to backed loans, give taxpayer guarantees to loans that the finance company was giving. a large number of those, £250 million, went to companies linked to the doctor steel business, and the guptill group. that money now is that the taxpayer may be on the hook for, because they have been repayments missed on those

loans. —— gupta group. questions about mr cameron's lobbying when he was cleared for, investigations by his lobbying by mps who may be said he had acted unwisely. but had not broken the rules. but questions too being looked at now are separately into the financing, help greensill capital and g f g group, this steel linked company, how that worked. there are serious investigations into that side of things. and whether there were improper relationships there.— relationships there. damian grammaticas, _ relationships there. damian grammaticas, many - relationships there. damian grammaticas, many thanks| relationships there. damian i grammaticas, many thanks for relationships there. damian - grammaticas, many thanks for that. let's speak now to labour mp darrenjones who is the chair of the house of commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee. very good morning to you. what new issues do you think the panorama investigation has raised?-

issues do you think the panorama investigation has raised? there are two separate _ investigation has raised? there are two separate issues, _ investigation has raised? there are two separate issues, the _ investigation has raised? there are two separate issues, the first i investigation has raised? there are two separate issues, the first is i investigation has raised? there are two separate issues, the first is an | two separate issues, the first is an issue for mr cameron to answer, which is how much he knew about the conduct that was happening at greensill capital with the moving of funds to pay invoices which were not going to be paid back. when he was lobbying for taxpayers' money to bolster the business in which he had a financial interest. all of this is being investigated by the serious fraud office, it may be for them to ask mr cameron those questions. the second issue which has come up is another company which says that greensill capital essentially created invoices for potential future customers fade on its behalf in order to raise money for them, when in fact those customers and those invoices never existed. a line had come forward in our investigation on the business committee in relation to liberty steel and the sanjeev gupta group

and the gft group. dfg steel and the sanjeev gupta group and the gft group.— and the gft group. dfg is the com an and the gft group. dfg is the company that _ and the gft group. dfg is the company that owns _ and the gft group. dfg is the company that owns a - and the gft group. dfg is the company that owns a lot i and the gft group. dfg is the company that owns a lot of i and the gft group. dfg is the i company that owns a lot of steel in this company. he said he wasn't involved in greensill or the lending decisions and no idea that the company was in trouble until december 2020. so are you saying there were reasons to doubt that? well, according to accounts, mr cameron had a close relation to the founder of greensill capital. while he did not have a position which requires accountability like being a director of the company or a boredom, it seems to be he has been in the boardroom anyway on a number of occasions, he was flying around the world with lex greensill in his private jet and making significant introductions on behalf of the business. to say he did not know anything about the business seems suspect. what we really need to know is how much did he know about what seems to be quite dodgy practices at greensill capital and whether he was lobbying the government about taxpayer funds to bolster their

position. taxpayer funds to bolster their osition. . ,., , taxpayer funds to bolster their osition. . .. , ., position. the taxpayer gave greensill — position. the taxpayer gave greensill capital _ position. the taxpayer gave greensill capital £320 i position. the taxpayer gave i greensill capital £320 million, is there a real risk, do you think, to this money in taxpayer loans? the issue here — this money in taxpayer loans? the issue here is _ this money in taxpayer loans? tie: issue here is that the british business bank, which is part of the government, gave guarantees to greensill capital. greensill capital then lend money to companies in the gfg alliance, which it appears greensill capital knew it would never be able to pay back those loans and in the circumstances, the british taxpayers on the hook to repay the £350 million. the government has said that it has revoked those guarantees and it does not think it should be on the hook and is now subject to a legal dispute between greensill capital and the government. gfg dispute between greensill capital and the government. gfg alliance, as i set a and the government. gfg alliance, as i set a little — and the government. gfg alliance, as i set a little earlier, _ and the government. gfg alliance, as i set a little earlier, was _ i set a little earlier, was responsible for many steel jobs i set a little earlier, was responsible for many steeljobs in this country, is that a risk to those, do you think?- this country, is that a risk to those, do you think? this is the heartbreaking _ those, do you think? this is the heartbreaking part _ those, do you think? this is the heartbreaking part of _ those, do you think? this is the heartbreaking part of this i those, do you think? this is the heartbreaking part of this sorry | heartbreaking part of this sorry saga, to be honest, there are many

steel workers in newport, hartlepool yorkshire and other parts of the country, who go to work everyday and worked really hard to make a success of an important industry in our country, the steel industry. it must be harrowing for them to watch programmes like panorama to see that david cameron, a former prime minister, lex greensill a financial company that has gone bust and sanjeev gupta, the person who bought those sites, appear to be putting theirjobs those sites, appear to be putting their jobs at those sites, appear to be putting theirjobs at risk. that is entirely unfair and is putting a key industry at risk in our country. i hope this sorry saga concludes with accountability for those who have acted against ethical principles or against the rules. in the steel industry finding a way forward for the future. g ., , ., ,, industry finding a way forward for the future. g ., , ., ~ ,. the future. darren jones, thank you. labour mp, — the future. darren jones, thank you. labour mp, chairman _ the future. darren jones, thank you. labour mp, chairman for _ the future. darren jones, thank you. labour mp, chairman for the - the future. darren jones, thank you. labour mp, chairman for the house | the future. darren jones, thank you. i labour mp, chairman for the house of commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee. there is more on this story in david cameron a and the missing millions,,

which is available to watch online via the bbc iplayer. i want to return to results now. we have been hearing about the sharp increase in the top grades awarded at a level after a second year of disruption caused by the covid—19 pandemic. in scotland, students have been finding out how they did in their highers and apple mac national 5s. —— national five. and apple mac national 5s. —— nationalfive. they are and apple mac national 5s. —— national five. they are down 89% in 2020 to just under 86%. highers are down from just under 89% to just over 87%. there are record numbers, a similar pictured england, wales and northern ireland, of a grades, up

and northern ireland, of a grades, up 47% for national 5s for more than 47% a highers and 51% for advanced highers. that is a lot of percentages which i think we need to put into a table and bring you visually in due course. if you followed that, you are more able than i am. pass rates down, but record number of a grades this year is the headline. a huge wildfire in northern california is now the second largest in the state's history. the dixie fire has been burning for more than 26 days and almost ten thousand firefighters are trying to contain it. azaday moshiri reports. it's become the second—largest fire in california's history. flames so relentless, they threaten entire towns. the now infamous dixie fire started almost a month ago in the north of the state, and is now around two and a half

times the size of new york, and there is still no sign of abating. 11 major wildfires are burning across the state. 489,000 acres of land have been ravaged by the dixie fire alone. and only 21% of the blaze is contained. but it's notjust land, but also lives that are at risk. thousands have been evacuated under orders from the state, leaving their homes and businesses at mercy of the blaze. you could see the red coming over the hill, it was a monster, it truly is. california's governor walked through the historic gold rush town of greenville which has been ravaged by the fire and left in ruins. the fires are getting a lot drier and the heat and hot weather is a lot harder than it's ever been.

the extreme weather conditions, extreme droughts, leading to extreme conditions, and wildfire challenges the likes of which we have never seen in our history, and as a consequence we need to acknowledge, straight up, these are climate—fuelled wildfires. despite more than 5000 firefighters battling the blaze, authorities warned it could take weeks to contain, and with rescue workers expecting higher temperatures in the coming days, more of california will be swallowed up by flames. the headlines on bbc news: a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high. the education secretary said it's been an exceptional year.

this cohort of students have had to deal with the level of disruption that no one has ever seen before, not even during a world war as a result of this pandemic. and it is right that we take unprecedented steps. firefighters from across europe head to greece, to help battle wildfires on evia — the country's second largest island. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around seven million pounds from the failed finance company greensill. scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day — rather than the many months it often currently takes. more now on the news that here in the uk, there's been a sharp increase in the proportion of top grades awarded at a—level after exams were cancelled for a second year because of the pandemic.

44.8 % of entries in england, wales and northern ireland were awarded an a or a—star — a record high — and a rise of 6.3 percentage points on last year. as well as a—level results, thousands of students across the uk will be receiving the results of their btec qualifications today. 0ur correspondent nina warhurst has been speaking to some of them in bolton. yes, good morning, rebecca. now, i don't know what your college looked like, what your classroom looked like when you were studying at college, but was it anything like this? mine wasn't, mine was just desks in front of a board, but here for the students doing btecs in things like hairdressing, childcare, engineering, catering, obviously in here it is much more hands—on training and there has been a real growth in that. around 250,000 btecs were taken in the year 2019 and there they will have been an increase this

year because there has been a greater interest in hands—on practical qualifications. more people now doing btecs than there are a—levels, let's have a word with the principle here this morning. good to see you, bill. thank you for having us. congratulations on all of the excellent results you have had at the college, but i can only imagine what an 18 months it has been for you. yes, an 18 months like no other, frankly. but due to the fact we have just got a fantastic set of staff here and wonderful students, they have all pulled together and have really driven forward to come up with what we have today, which is the end of the academic year. practically speaking, how has it work? how have you managed to take what are very hands—on in the classroom and make sure students still have that experience? frankly, the inventiveness and innovation of my staff is beyond measure, frankly. they have done everything you can possibly not even imagine. they have been taking model heads from the hairdressing salons and sending them out to the students, they have been

doing catering practical is in their own homes. everything they could possibly do has been done. clearly it has been a challenge but we have adapted wherever possible. the number crunchers are looking at the results and there is always the debate about whether the results have been inflated, particularly so this year because a lot of the grading has been done with a bit of guesswork, i think it is fed to say. what would your reaction to that be? not a lot of guesswork here. evidence—based. a lot of effort put in by the staff where possible we have done a whole range of different assessments. we have moderated across all of the different areas within the college and also reviewed externally as well by the relevant bodies. i'm very confident of the robustness of our outcomes this year. to those who say the inflation in grades isn't fair, what would you say? i would say stop looking at the inflation of the greats of the statistics and look at what is most important today, which isjust how fantastic the students had done. yes, let's start celebrating.

you were hoping to go from college and on to university which shows that btecs can take you onto more academic qualifications. i got that btecs can take you onto more academic qualifications.— academic qualifications. i got a tri - le academic qualifications. i got a triple distinction. _ academic qualifications. i got a triple distinction. a _ academic qualifications. i got a triple distinction. a triple i triple distinction. a triple distinction _ triple distinction. a triple distinction is _ triple distinction. a triple distinction is more i triple distinction. a triple distinction is more than l triple distinction. a triple i distinction is more than pretty good, mohammed. than distinction is more than pretty good, mohammed. distinction is more than pretty nood, mohammed. �* . .. ., good, mohammed. an accident, iwould sa . ican't good, mohammed. an accident, iwould say- i can't wait— good, mohammed. an accident, iwould say. i can't wait to _ good, mohammed. an accident, iwould say. i can't wait to go _ good, mohammed. an accident, iwould say. i can't wait to go on _ good, mohammed. an accident, iwould say. i can't wait to go on to _ say. i can't wait to go on to university and perform there the same as i did here. congratulations to ou. same as i did here. congratulations to you- you — same as i did here. congratulations to you- you only — same as i did here. congratulations to you. you only started _ same as i did here. congratulations to you. you only started learning i to you. you only started learning english five years ago, just tell us

about your results today. i’m english five years ago, just tell us about your results today. i'm really ha - with about your results today. i'm really happy with them — about your results today. i'm really happy with them and _ about your results today. i'm really happy with them and cannot - about your results today. i'm really happy with them and cannot wait . about your results today. i'm really| happy with them and cannot wait to start _ happy with them and cannot wait to start it _ happy with them and cannot wait to start. it will be a long four years, but i _ start. it will be a long four years, but lam — start. it will be a long four years, but i am excited, it will be a lot of experiences and things to try. i cannot— of experiences and things to try. i cannot wait — of experiences and things to try. i cannot wait-— of experiences and things to try. i cannot wait. your plan now is to go to bolton university _ cannot wait. your plan now is to go to bolton university and _ cannot wait. your plan now is to go to bolton university and carry i cannot wait. your plan now is to go to bolton university and carry on i to bolton university and carry on studying business. i to bolton university and carry on studying business.— studying business. i will do my masters, maybe _ studying business. i will do my masters, maybe four- studying business. i will do my masters, maybe four years. i studying business. i will do my masters, maybe four years. al masters, maybe four years. a long journey _ masters, maybe four years. a long journey but — masters, maybe four years. a long journey but i cannot wait to finish. i'm journey but i cannot wait to finish. l'm sure _ journey but i cannot wait to finish. l'm sure you — journey but i cannot wait to finish. i'm sure you would do brilliantly, congratulations to all. you have been resilient and worked very hard. ijust been resilient and worked very hard. i just wanted to been resilient and worked very hard. ijust wanted to introduce you to someone doing catering. it cannot have been easy training catering over lockdown with lots of hospitality venues close. tell us what you were up to. that hospitality venues close. tell us what you were up to.— hospitality venues close. tell us what you were up to. at the start of lockdown, what you were up to. at the start of lockdown. l — what you were up to. at the start of lockdown, i was _ what you were up to. at the start of lockdown, i was working _ what you were up to. at the start of lockdown, i was working for - what you were up to. at the start of lockdown, i was working for the i what you were up to. at the start of| lockdown, i was working for the nhs at the nightingale hospital in manchester, i was doing catering support staff feeling patience and other stuff like that. so support staff feeling patience and other stuff like that.— other stuff like that. so work that really matters. — other stuff like that. so work that really matters, you _ other stuff like that. so work that really matters, you could - other stuff like that. so work that really matters, you could carry i other stuff like that. so work that j really matters, you could carry on your training really matters, you could carry on yourtraining in really matters, you could carry on your training in some other capacity in places that were doing takeaways.

i never stopped working during the lockdown, i have had fivejobs over it. lockdown, i have had five “obs over it. . ., ~ ., , , ., it. wow! and when i what is the plan now ou it. wow! and when i what is the plan now you have _ it. wow! and when i what is the plan now you have finished _ it. wow! and when i what is the plan now you have finished the _ it. wow! and when i what is the plan now you have finished the course? i | now you have finished the course? i will go a michelin star restaurants, looking in the manchester area of the member and maybe do a year abroad in france. 50 the member and maybe do a year abroad in france.— the member and maybe do a year abroad in france. so these are the --eole of abroad in france. so these are the people of the _ abroad in france. so these are the people of the future, _ abroad in france. so these are the people of the future, doing - abroad in france. so these are the people of the future, doing all i abroad in france. so these are the people of the future, doing all of i people of the future, doing all of these jobs that make society to to what we do. congratulations to them all into everybody who is watching who has the qualifications today. if it has not turned out the way you wanted it to, i'm sure there will be other opportunities down the road. as they were for me and steve the cameraman, who got nowhere near the grades we wanted. many children hope to get in to oxford or cambridge. but between them, this pair of twins has managed both. i'm joined now by emmanuel, who is heading to oxford, congratulations to you both. i

understand that you are the alter. what did you need and what did you get and where are you going? i needed three days and i got three a star and i'm needed three days and i got three a starand i'm going needed three days and i got three a star and i'm going to oxford in october to read english literature. and what about you? you'll sign that i am going to cambridge to study spanish and russian. i have to ask you, how nervous have you been in the few days coming up to results they are where you are pretty confident? i they are where you are pretty confident?— they are where you are pretty confident? . , ., , confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying _ confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying to _ confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying to block _ confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying to block out _ confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying to block out my i confident? i was quite nervous. i was trying to block out my mind. confident? i was quite nervous. i i was trying to block out my mind. the day before it was difficult to get to sleep. was nervous. i day before it was difficult to get to sleep. was nervous.- day before it was difficult to get to sleep. was nervous. i had not been thinking — to sleep. was nervous. i had not been thinking about _ to sleep. was nervous. i had not been thinking about it _ to sleep. was nervous. i had not been thinking about it much, i to sleep. was nervous. i had not| been thinking about it much, but to sleep. was nervous. i had not i been thinking about it much, but the day before _ been thinking about it much, but the day before i— been thinking about it much, but the day before i started to think about it a bit— day before i started to think about it a bit more and they became a lot more _ it a bit more and they became a lot

more real~ — it a bit more and they became a lot more real. , it a bit more and they became a lot more real-— more real. this is a mean question and i do more real. this is a mean question and i do not _ more real. this is a mean question and i do not mind _ more real. this is a mean question and i do not mind which _ more real. this is a mean question and i do not mind which one i more real. this is a mean question | and i do not mind which one answer is, you are twins, you have your eye set on the ultimate prize, did you ever wonder if one got the grades and the other one didn't? irlot and the other one didn't? not reall . i and the other one didn't? not really- i was _ and the other one didn't? not really. i was we _ and the other one didn't? iirrt really. i was we would both get the grades, we have had lots of evidence and past examination, i know him and i know he is capable, it did not come where you as confident? yes, it has been such a strange year. it has not been easy. how have you found it? it has not been easy. how have you found it? ., , , has not been easy. how have you found it? . , , ., , found it? it has been really strange. — found it? it has been really strange, online _ found it? it has been really strange, online learning, i found it? it has been really - strange, online learning, isolating, a lot of— strange, online learning, isolating, a lot of disruption. we had a really good _ a lot of disruption. we had a really good support, our mum has been supporting — good support, our mum has been supporting us and the school has helped _ supporting us and the school has helped us — supporting us and the school has heled us. ~ .,, supporting us and the school has heled us. ~ ., ., supporting us and the school has helped us— supporting us and the school has heled us. ~ ., ., ., helped us. was that the same for ou? it helped us. was that the same for you? it has _ helped us. was that the same for you? it has been _ helped us. was that the same for

you? it has been such _ helped us. was that the same for you? it has been such a - helped us. was that the same for you? it has been such a change l helped us. was that the same for. you? it has been such a change for pupils like you. you? it has been such a change for pupils like you-— pupils like you. without a doubt. from going _ pupils like you. without a doubt. from going from _ pupils like you. without a doubt. from going from learning - pupils like you. without a doubt. from going from learning in i pupils like you. without a doubt. from going from learning in the | from going from learning in the classroom to learning online, it is hard to motivate yourself, but we had a really big support network in our school and our mum at home. we always had people in our corner. have you had a chance to talk to your friends?— have you had a chance to talk to our friends? ., .., , , , your friends? the general consensus is that most — your friends? the general consensus is that most people _ your friends? the general consensus is that most people are _ your friends? the general consensus is that most people are happy. i your friends? the general consensus is that most people are happy. and? you have all done well. what are you most looking forward to about going to cambridge? i am most looking forward to about going to cambridge?— to cambridge? i am excited to meet the --eole to cambridge? i am excited to meet the people there. _ to cambridge? i am excited to meet the people there. i— to cambridge? i am excited to meet the people there. i never— to cambridge? i am excited to meet the people there. i never studied i the people there. i never studied russian — the people there. i never studied russian before. it's going to be intense — russian before. it's going to be intense to— russian before. it's going to be intense to be able to speak out and have a _ intense to be able to speak out and have a new — intense to be able to speak out and have a new skill. you intense to be able to speak out and have a new skill.— have a new skill. you are going to study russian _ have a new skill. you are going to study russian and _ have a new skill. you are going to study russian and you _ have a new skill. you are going to study russian and you have i have a new skill. you are going to study russian and you have neverj study russian and you have never studied it? how does that work? you

do to languages and i have done spanish — do to languages and i have done spanish at — do to languages and i have done spanish at a level but i am picking up spanish at a level but i am picking up ration— spanish at a level but i am picking up ration from scratch that sounds like a challenge. i imagine with english literature you know what you're getting into. it is to be ve know what you're getting into. it 3 to be very intense and a lot of reading but it's going to be a challenge to get to grips with the subject and increase my knowledge. delving into new society did you at any point consider going to the same university or did you deliberately choose different ones? initially, in year 12, deliberately choose different ones? initially, in year12, i deliberately choose different ones? initially, in year 12, i was considering cambridge but the oxford african caribbean society didn't access event and i really like the atmosphere, the student body, there were slight differences in the course with 0xford that i preferred

so i changed from cambridge to oxford. so you could have ended up at the same university? would that have been nice or do you prefer to be a part for a little while?— part for a little while? either way would have _ part for a little while? either way would have been _ part for a little while? either way would have been nice, _ part for a little while? either way would have been nice, i - part for a little while? either way would have been nice, i was i part for a little while? either way i would have been nice, i was hoping he would _ would have been nice, i was hoping he would apply to cambridge, but it will be _ he would apply to cambridge, but it will be nice — he would apply to cambridge, but it will be nice to grow separately but we will _ will be nice to grow separately but we will still be in contact all the time _ a final question. how are you going to celebrate? you both deserve it. we weren't sure, but we thought we would _ we weren't sure, but we thought we would just— we weren't sure, but we thought we would just celebrate with friends today _ would “ust celebrate with friends toda . , , ., ., would “ust celebrate with friends toda . , ., , ., �* today. push the boat out, why don't ou? today. push the boat out, why don't you? many — today. push the boat out, why don't you? many congratulations - today. push the boat out, why don't you? many congratulations and i today. push the boat out, why don'tl you? many congratulations and good look —— good luck for yourfuture. i am sure you have got bright futures ahead of you.

for people living with dementia, the path to a crucial diagnosis can take months, sometimes even years. but now scientists in cambridge are testing artificial intelligence that could pick up the disease in a single day — something researchers say could greatly improve patient outcomes. here's our science correspondent pallab ghosh. careful over here. penelope clark noticed that her husband, dennis, began to forget things last year. how can i say it? it was... it was as though my brain was telling me to do things, yeah, but it doesn't... difficult for him to actually explain what happens, really. they're concerned that he's developing some form of dementia. it does mean that i understand that we would probably have to sell our house to pay for my husband's care. thanks for coming with me today. the couple are taking part in trials of a new system that will be able to tell not only whether dennis has some form of dementia, but how

quickly it's likely to develop. have you got any questions about it at all? _ no, i think it's fantastic. if you had a diagnosis that gave you some indication of the progression, would that be of help? well, then we could, you know, plan financially as well as, as a couple to be able to perhaps have a few holidays before things got bad that i couldn't take dennis on holiday. dennis's brain scan will be analysed by an artificial intelligence computer programme. it compares his scan with those of thousands of other dementia patients. in preclinical tests, it's been able to diagnose dementia years before symptoms develop. and even when there's no obvious sign of damage on the brain scan. it's also been shown to predict whether the condition will remain stable for several years, progress slowly or require immediate treatment. it's fantastic, really, - because these set of diseases are really devastating

for many people. i if you have a diagnosis of dementia, lthat's a big thing to take on board. i so, you know, when i'ml delivering this diagnosis, anything which i can do to be more confident about that, _ to give people more information, | to help them and plan their lives| is a great thing to be able to do. and the new technique can give results much faster. currently, it can take several scans and many other tests to find out whether someone has dementia. the new artificial intelligence system can potentially pick it up with just one scan, and it can pick it up much earlier in the progression of the disease. the researcher who led the development of the system believes that early and accurate diagnosis of dementia will make treatments much more effective. if we intervene early, the treatments can kick in early and slow down the progression and at the same time avoid more damage happening to the brain. and it's likely that then symptoms might occur much later in life or there may actually never occur.

the system is currently being tested to see if it works just as well in a clinical setting as it has in the lab. ready, steady, go. at this stage, only dennis's doctor will be given the result to help him decide the best course of treatment. but if the artificial intelligence system is found to be reliable, it'll make a big difference to dennis and millions like him. pallab ghosh, bbc news, cambridge. the headlines on bbc news... a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high — with 44.8% getting a* or a grades. firefighters from across europe head to greece, to help battle wildfires on evia —

the country's second largest island. the united states has confirmed that its sending its envoy, zalmay khalilzad, to qatar to hold talks over three—days to try to bring an end to the current taliban offensive in afghhanistan. as the fierce fighting continues across the country, thousands of people are fleeing to turkey. for a country already playing host to four million refugees, the situation is causing alarm — with humanitarian agencies bracing themselves for an increase in the number of displaced people. from eastern turkey, mahmut hamsici has this report. escape from the taliban. as we arrived in this border area, we met hundreds of afghans fleeing war. many have travelled hundreds of miles across iran. for some, thejourney is all too much. their entire existence

packed into bags. they are exhausted, under the bright sun. child crying perida came here with her four children. she sold her house to raise enough cash for the journey. but after being robbed, she now finds herself penniless. translation: i want a nice life for my children, - i want a quiet life. i want them to be educated, to succeed in their life. afghanistan is in a bad situation. there is a war. the father of my children is uneducated — he can't do anything. i want my children to succeed and save themselves. perida's husband says they want to start a new life in turkey. translation: we've been on the road for 18 days. i we were brought and left here. we walked four or five days and the children are all ill. police chase us and we escape.

there are many problems like this. what should we do and where should we go? the security services are patrolling this entire border area, aiming to stop migrants from reaching big cities like istanbul in the west. turkey is already struggling with a massive refugee population. as night falls, many of the migrants make it to the nearest city. dozens of men find shelter under a nearby bridge. it's there where we find mohamed. as he tells us he lost his wife and daughter on the journey, he holds his son tight. translation: with my son, daughter and wife, we went l to iran to cross the border. but we came into a police ambush. the border guards fired at us. i lost track of my wife and my daughter. i continued the journey with my only son. i came to turkey to go to greece but i don't know

where my wife and daughter are. as these migrants continue theirjourney, the un and other agencies are warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis in afghanistan, which will mean more people joining this route. mahmut hamsici, bbc news, eastern turkey. canada's ambassador to beijing has criticised a chinese court's decision to uphold a death sentence for a canadian drugs smuggler. robert schellenberg was charged in 2015 and received a 15—year prison sentence in 2018. a diplomatic row then broke out between canada and china over the detention of the huawei executive meng wanzhou. within weeks, mr schallenberg had been retried and sentenced to death. scores of palestinian families have been told they must leave their homes in eastjerusalem,

some of them by this weekend. few expect the israeli authorities, who say the families never had permission to build in the area, to force through eviction and demolition orders immediately. but people living in the silwan area told the bbc the government is stepping up efforts to force them out of the disputed area. jenny hill reports from jerusalem. it is their own home but they are tearing it down. dangerous work, but this family told us they have no choice. the israeli authorities say they built this illegally so they and the house have to go. translation: as you can see, i as a family, we are demolishing our house with our bare hands. it is not easy for anyone to knock down his house with his own hands. but scores of people living in one part of eastjerusalem fear they will have to do exactly that. right outside the old city walls,

the district of silwan. nine years ago, mohammed built a home here for his family. but israel says he and many of his palestinian neighbours have no right to do so. he has been told to leave. translation: this is a holy blessed land. l we won't go. they are putting pressure on us to leave silwan, but we will stay until our last breath, even if they demolish the house. i'll rent another one and i'll stay here injerusalem. we are now telling scores of families that their houses are going to be knocked down. we are telling scores of families, here is where you can build, here is where you couldn't build. and you are right that many people built illegally because permits were very hard to get. that has changed. you know, rome was not built in a day. we are really narrowing the gap. this is a battle, a sacred ground. a fewjewish families live among the palestinians here, with security provided by the state of israel.

the heart and the soul of the jewish people is here injerusalem. this man wants to see morejewish families moving into silwan. this is the synagogue. his organisation recently claimed this old synagogue complex. the prophet spoke 2000 years ago that we were going to come back here. anyone who wants to live in a jewish state withjewish people, 100%. i've said it before and i will say it again. i will put the blue and white carpet, and roll it out in front of them. but the second he wants to kill me, that type of arab is not welcome in thisjewish homeland. the dispute over this valley has been going on for decades. in truth, there is little hope of resolution. all the new israeli government can do is try to stop it escalating into serious violence. the family worked through the night to destroy their house in a city divided over how to build its future. jenny hill, bbc news, jerusalem. london's tower bridge has reopened to traffic overnight after becoming stuck due

to a technical problem. the 127—year—old crossing became jammed after allowing a tall ship through yesterday afternoon. a "technicalfailure" is being blamed for the major disruption. now it's time for a look at the weather: hello again. temperatures could reach 25 celsius in some parts of the southeast this week. if that happens, it will be the first time we've seen that level of temperature since july. today, though, there is some warm sunshine to look forward to, and a few showers in the forecast. we have got this ridge of high pressure across us, so that is keeping things fairly settled before this next area of low pressure in the atlantic comes our way with its attendant fronts. so we've got some showers moving west to east across parts of england and wales. they are fairly well scattered. heavier thundery showers across the north—east of scotland through the afternoon. but western scotland, northern ireland, northern england, largely dry with the odd shower.

we could see a few coming down the north—east coast of england as well. temperatures today, getting up to 23, possibly 24, in the sunshine, it will feel quite pleasant. as we head on through the evening, we will hang onto a lot of the showers initially across the north and east of scotland. we could also see some patchy mist and fog forming in eastern england. but then the wind is going to pick up towards the west, the cloud will build and we'll start to see some rain coming our way. as a result, it is not going to be a cold night, mostly sitting in double figures. so, tomorrow we've got a couple of fronts coming our way. the first one introducing some rain and drizzle. the second one introducing more persistent rain and brisk winds around it as well. any patchy mist that has formed overnight or fog in the east will lift quite quickly. there will be a bright start in the east, but ahead of this front bringing the rain, the cloud will build. we'll see some drizzle, for example, in the midlands. behind this band of rain we'll see a return to brighter conditions in western scotland and northern ireland. 0ur weather front

sinks south overnight. here it is on thursday. it is a weak feature. then this area of low pressure comes in with its fronts. so here is our weak front in the south, cloudy and also a bit of rain to start with, breaking up through the day with some sunshine coming through. a lot of dry weather ahead of the rain coming into the west and here too we'll have strong winds. the western isles could have winds as much as 40 mph. temperatures, though, could reach 25 in norwich. on friday, a blustery day whereever you are, the strongest winds in the north where there will be some thundery showers. and then into saturday, it is a mixture of sunshine and showers.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high. but head teachers and students reject warnings of "grade inflation". everyone has gone through so much that no other year has had to go through and no one should feel that their grade is and where they either don't deserve it. in scotland pass rates are slightly down on last year. a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around £7 million from the failed finance

company greensill. scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day — rather than the many months it often currently takes. london's tower bridge has reopened to traffic overnight after becoming stuck due to a technical problem. there's been a sharp increase in the top grades awarded at a—level in england, wales and northern ireland after a second year of disruption caused by covid—19 pandemic.

in scotland the pass rates are down on last year. but there are also record a grades. south of the border, nearly 45% of a—level students received as and a*s. that's up from 38.5% last year, an increase 6.3%. last summer, after a u—turn over a—level results, record numbers of top grades were awarded — with 38.6% of entrants achieving an a* or a grade. (ani)this year's grades — at 44.8% — are even higher and represent a 75% increase over the last two yea rs.

with official exams scrapped this year, marks have been awarded based mainly on teacher assessment. the education secretary, gavin williamson, has urged against "talking down" their achievements. scottish national 5s are down to 86% — that's a 3% drop on last year. but there are a record number — 47% — of a grades this year. scottish highers pass rates are 87% — a 2% drop. there was a 2% drop to 91% in advanced highers. vocational btec results are also out today. students will also find the results for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships. young people are being urged to "explore all the options open to them" when they have their results. we are going to speak to our correspondenst across the uk — in a moment we will speak to chris page in lurgan,

hywel griffith in natgarw, and alexandra mackenzie in glasgow — but first to our education correspondent sean dilley — who is at a sixth form college in winchester. how has it been going this morning? everybody happy? to see people have been ecstatic would be a massive understatement. all the area we are standing and i was mobbed with students who were positively ecstatic, two out of every five entrants achieving the top marks. this is the largest education cleaning centre in the country and i was chatting to some students who were seeing this is a difficult year for us, we have been through a torment that people in previous years have not been but unlike some colleges and schools because this was discretionary there have been exams that we used to assess whether or not the teachers estimates of marks were correct. we'lljust take

a quick look at some of the figures. 44 appointed percent achieving those top marks of a* our age, competing top marks of a* our age, competing to 13.5% across england, wales and northern ireland last year. —— 38.5% there is a 75% gap of those achieving a* and a grades there is a 75% gap of those achieving a*and a grades but there is a 75% gap of those achieving a* and a grades but the union say it is comparing apples and oranges because no years before it have experienced the lockdown is and strategies this half. no to my colleague chris page. here in northern ireland it has been a record—breaking year for a—level success. almost 51% of entries have been awarded the top a* and a grades. last year it was 45% on last year it was 32% saw the results are

the best ever and just to give you another topline statistic the very top grade, a*, 14.5% last year. this year it is 15.8%. this college is one of the bigger schools in northern ireland. people have been coming into the school hall here to get the results. it's quite down a bit but we still have got some students who have come to pick up their results and there will surely be plenty nerves amongst the students and their teachers but also lots of excitement and joy as well. lots of hugs and celebration. for the students here leaving, obviously it has been an experience of a—levels they never expected it would have. they have been moving up through the school and know many expressing hope that with covid starting to recede university will

be as normal as possible and if you have told me of the plan is to be fair, to go to university a year later in the hope things will be a little more normal. but on the whole are very happy picture in northern ireland. let's hear the picture in wales. thanks. it is results day in wales. thanks. it is results day in wales but it is checking results rather than opening up the envelopes for the first time. students in wales were told their provisional results back injune and given the opportunity to appeal. as with other parts of the uk the overall picture is up in terms of a and a*, 48% of students getting those levels, up 6% from last year and 20% from two years ago. there is that debate around inflation, but how did the students themselves feel? congratulations, well done. you other class of 2021. you have been through a very tough pandemic. tell

me you got on. i through a very tough pandemic. tell me you got on— me you got on. i had done a“. what miaht me you got on. i had done a“. what might congratulations. _ me you got on. i had done a“. what might congratulations. how - me you got on. i had done a“. what might congratulations. how do i me you got on. i had done a“. what might congratulations. how do you | might congratulations. how do you feel these compare and people in the future will have to do exams? we worked hard for the last couple of years with covid and stuff and i think when i got university i will be proud of my results and if anyone says anything it doesn't matter because i worked hard for it. gillian, you are halfway through. tell me your results. i had an a a in double mass and in biology and chemistry. == in double mass and in biology and chemist . . ., . , in double mass and in biology and chemistry-_ do i in double mass and in biology and i chemistry._ do you chemistry. -- mathematics. do you think it will — chemistry. -- mathematics. do you think it will be — chemistry. -- mathematics. do you think it will be tougher _ chemistry. -- mathematics. do you think it will be tougher next - chemistry. -- mathematics. do you think it will be tougher next year? i think it will be tougher next year? i think it will be tougher because we don't really know what we will be dealing with again. the thing that was hard this year was the uncertainty of what we are going to do because we only had two months warning that we are going to do

these exams, we are going to do these. so i think we all deserve it, really. these. so i think we all deserve it, reall . ~ , these. so i think we all deserve it, reall. ~ , really. absolutely. tell me you results. really. absolutely. tell me you results- i— really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got _ really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got for _ really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got for a“. _ really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got for a“. -- - really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got for a“. -- i- really. absolutely. tell me you results. i got for a“. -- i got i really. absolutely. tell me you i results. i got for a“. -- i got four of them- — results. i got for a“. -- i got four of them- i'm _ results. i got for a“. -- i got four of them. i'm going _ results. i got for a“. -- i got four of them. i'm going to _ results. i got for a“. -- i got four of them. i'm going to study - results. i got for a“. -- i got four l of them. i'm going to study nuclear medicine and with personal its biggest off cancer it works with treating cancer and i like learning about science.— treating cancer and i like learning about science. what do you make about science. what do you make about this debate, _ about science. what do you make about this debate, you _ about science. what do you make about this debate, you have - about science. what do you make about this debate, you have had l about science. what do you make i about this debate, you have had the a*, a lot of people have had them this year. do you think these results will stand the test of time? i hope so. our challenges have been slightly different to normal and i know we did do tests and conditions. i don't think that should be held differently to others. ., ., ., ., , ., should be held differently to others. ., ., ., ., , ._, ., others. congratulations to all of ou, others. congratulations to all of you. even _ others. congratulations to all of you, even although _ others. congratulations to all of you, even although it's - others. congratulations to all of you, even although it's not - others. congratulations to all of you, even although it's not the| you, even although it's not the first time you've had the results

you can still celebrate them tonight. let's go to scotland. pupils in scotland also got their results injunejust pupils in scotland also got their results injune just before the scottish schools broke up for the holidays and today we have had a briefing from the scottish qualifications authority to give us the broader picture. the results for the broader picture. the results for the national five exams which people set at 15 or 16 then their highers and advanced highers. because of coronavirus there were no exams sat this year, there were assessments and it was teachers that graded those assessments. what we heard from the scottish qualifications authority a few minutes ago was this was the highest number of higher passes since at least 1999 was the highest number of higher passes since at least1999 and also the highest number of advanced higher passes since they were introduced but they also said that pass rates were slightly down this year. for nationalfive, they

pass rates were slightly down this year. for national five, they were down from 89% to just under 86% and highers were down from just over 89% tojust over 87%. highers were down from just over 89% to just over 87%. they have also said this was a year for a record number of a grades for highers. it was 40% last year and up to 47.6% this year saw a record level. they also talked about the poverty —related attainment gap which they said was narrower than 2019 but slightly wider than it was last year. several people, around 4000 people, have gone for appeals this year but the closing date for this is thursday so we will get a final numberfor is thursday so we will get a final number for that after thursday. the education secretary said pupils had delivered a strong set of results in that they had achieved under extraordinary circumstances.

alexandra, thank you very much and also to all our other correspondence. we will be speaking to you throughout the day, i'm sure. let's get more background on how those decisions were made for students. ian bauckham is chair of 0fqual — the body which controls exams and assessments in england. i don't know if you got what one of those students, very happy with their grades, but one of those students did say she is still very uncertain about what is going to happen next year as far as a—level students, what is going to happen? thank you very much on good morning. it was great to hear from around the country and i think the student in wales hoping to go on and do medicine probably said it better than i could. the grades we are

awarding young people this year it should be of course a celebration, they are evidence of their achievements in the most difficult of circumstances that it's pretty much possible to imagine and nothing that we see today she detract from the note of celebration of achievement that students are enjoying this morning. if we turn to next year clearly we have seen this year an approach which is different from the approach we would normally take when we are aiming to run examinations across the whole country and i'm talking here particularly about england. we had to take the approach because we couldn't hold exams because of the pandemic so relied on teacher assessment against content which has had to be taught because of the differential way the pandemic impacted our schools up and down the country. our view is that can get a

playing field which is reasonably level across all schools and colleges exams are still the fairest way to assess students. exams are the best way to do it in normal circumstances so we're very clear thatis circumstances so we're very clear that is what we would like to go about two in 2022, albeit with some appropriate adaptations. i appropriate adaptations. i understand that as proposals on the government website if people want to follow that because this is an important time for parents and students thinking about next year. there are a—level students looking forward to next year and you have set out proposals for exams and assessments for 2022. let's return to the exams of this year. how and what evidence that you look at when you decided it would be teachers determining the results? what evidence we are looking at? when the decision was — evidence we are looking at? when the decision was taken _ evidence we are looking at? when the decision was taken to _

evidence we are looking at? when the decision was taken to cancel - decision was taken to cancel examinations right back at the beginning ofjanuary we put examinations right back at the beginning of january we put together a consultation with a set of proposals for getting grades from students work based on teachers judgments. we consulted and that during january and into early february, got reckoned responses, over 100,000 and the vast majority of those responses supported the approach we take on that approach was to give teachers clear guidance and frameworks for arriving at grades with good training that is ruled out in schools but give teachers the flexibility to make those assessments against only part of the content that is normally required for a course if they had not been able to teach the entirety of the course because of the impact of the course because of the impact of school disruption and the pandemic. so that was approach consulted on and what we then ruled out. we give skills training and

guidance and looking to develop a policy and students were asked to produce work by the schools which was clearly done which teachers then assessed. i was clearly done which teachers then assessed. . , was clearly done which teachers then assessed. ., , , ., ., was clearly done which teachers then assessed. ., , ., ., ., assessed. i am sure you are aware that obviously _ assessed. i am sure you are aware that obviously grade _ assessed. i am sure you are aware that obviously grade inflation - assessed. i am sure you are aware that obviously grade inflation is i assessed. i am sure you are aware that obviously grade inflation is a l that obviously grade inflation is a big issue as it was last year but particularly this year. what sort of auditing and quality assurance of those teachers assessments were put in place? what was the safety net? how will you auditing their work? absolutely. we put in place a system of quality assurance so all schools where in contact with exam boards and checked that they had in place a policy and approach to do this in the most appropriate way. all schools were required to send in examples of student work for exam boards to look at if they felt they

needed to. one in five of schools had their work looked at in much greater depth and when i say the work i mean the samples of student work i mean the samples of student work teachers had graded and the purpose of that exercise was to check that the grades the teachers had awarded against that work where in the right spatial quality of the work submitted. where the grades that reasonably reflected the quality of work teachers had assess? that was one in five. we then had a smaller proportion we had to look at in more depth, a small proportion of that one in five and a smaller proportion still where there were some more serious problems that required more difficult connotations and required us to ask, required exams boards to ask to reconsider their grade. so the system actually touched every single exam centre operating in the country.- touched every single exam centre operating in the country. thank you very much- —

operating in the country. thank you very much- at _ operating in the country. thank you very much. at the _ operating in the country. thank you very much. at the moment, - operating in the country. thank you very much. at the moment, also i very much. at the moment, also saying all indications may be back next year. thank you. —— exams may be back next year. and if you have received your results today, and have any questions about university, we'd like to hear from you. at half past twelve we'll put them to our clare marchant, chief executive of ucas. you can get in touch on twitter using the hashtag bbcyourquestions and you can email us on yourquestions@bbc.co.uk for more on this year's exam results across the uk, including how grades have been decided, how to appeal and other questions, go to the bbc news website at bbc.co.uk/news or visit the bbc news app.

a woman from the us has filed a civil lawsuit in new york, accusing prince andrew of sexual abuse. in a statement, virginia roberts giuffre claims she was trafficked to the prince by the convicted paedophile jeffrey epstein,when she was 17. the case describes the alleged events as "extreme and outrageous conduct" and that they caused ms giuffre "significant emotional and psychological distress and harm". the documents read, "in this country no person, whether president or prince, is above the law, and no person, no matter how powerless or vulnerable, can be deprived of the law's protection." the duke of york has consistently denied the allegations. in november 2019 newsnight�*s emily maitlis spoke to prince andrew

about ms giuffre's allegations. do you remember meeting her at all? no. you can say categorically that you do not recall meeting virginia roberts, dining with her... yep. — ..dancing with her at tramp... yep. ..or going on to have sex with her... yes. ..in a bedroom in a house in belgravia? i can absolutely, categorically, tell you it never happened. - do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts then or at any other time? none whatsoever. with me is our correspondent, matt cole. can you give us the background to this and what virginia is claiming our religion? these are not new allegations, we should make that clear. we had the rebuttal and denial from clear. we had the rebuttal and denialfrom prince clear. we had the rebuttal and denial from prince andrew previously. what these are our

claims we have had before put in a civil lawsuit due to a piece of law, the new york state child victim act, a piece of legislation that says over a period of a year you can file a time—barred or expired claims of abuse of this nature. the window is about to close so hence these claims are to be made before. the substance of them in this 15 page document is that geoffrey eckstein forced virginia roberts, ——jeffrey epstein had —— to have sex with

prince andrew in three locations. it is also alleged prince andrew new she was under age and she did not consent to these events. how long something like this are likely to take? how often do civil cases get as far as the courts? this could be something that goes on for quite something that goes on for quite some time. we have had today from a spokesman for prince andrew who has given a very short statement which is no comment to these claims put within these documents. but there are still other legal criminal inquiries that have been taking place into this which under the united states system could take precedence over something like this so depending on how those enquiries progress and how this goes forward, this is not something i would expect we would be seeing an eminent resolution to adjust to stress again

prince andrew has emphatically and consistently denied these allegations and as we know from today we don't appear to be getting any further comment to add to what we have had from him but 15 pages of documents. jeffrey epstein and ms maxwell are named. but the only person the documents alleged against is prince andrew. david cameron made around £7 million from greensill capital before the controversial finance company collapsed earlier this year — that's according to documents obtained by bbc panorama. the former prime minister had lobbied the government on behalf of the company — which made its money by lending to businesses — and has repeatedly refused to tell mps what he was paid by greensill. a spokesman for mr cameron said his remuneration was a private matter. our economics correspondent andy verityjoins us now.

great to have you with us. just to be clear, david cameron has repeatedly refused to say how much he actually made while he was with greensill. what is panorama discovered? we got hold of a letter from greensill capital to david cameron which indicates he was getting $4.5 million after tax after he cashed in greensill in 2019, selling them back to the company. it was paid a salary of $1 million per year as a part—time adviser and on top of that we understand he was paid up posters of seven hundred thousand —— paid a bonus of $700,000. in total about $10 million which is about £7.5 million. greensill collapsed in march of this

year. investors and uk taxpayers were left facing pretty big losses, when they? that's right and that is one of the reasons this is so controversial. we have been taking a close look at some of the greensill investment schemes. david cameron has told us he wasn't involved in any investment decisions but became aware that greensill which takes money from investors and [ends it to company waiting to be paid and that the businessman sajiv gupta had made about $5 million from borrowing from greensill and they knew that his business was in financial trouble at the start of 2020 because it was unable to make payments on the

greensill lawns but they use their own cash at greensill to cover the investments that repayments could not be made. ——sanjiv gupta a statement says it is not even robbing peter to pay paul, it is a recirculation of greensill funds. and another e—mail says administration may be required. instead of raising the alarm, greensill capital decided to look for a new investor, the uk government and that is where you see all these texts and e—mails and david cameron sent 56 messages lobbying ministers and civil servants to get the bank of england to launch more than £50 million in greensill loans. that was turned down but injune the uk government

allowed greensill to start making coronavirus emergency loans which were backed by an guarantee. greensill made loans to companies associated with sanjiv gupta an all have failed to make the repayments of that has been suspended while investigated and it has been challenged. we also find out the taxpayer could still be on the hook for £320 million. the serious fraud office is in investigating and including gfg and its finance arrangements. and there is more on this story in "david cameron and the missing billions" — which is available to watch online via bbc iplayer. greece's prime minister has apologised for failures in tackling

the wildfires tearing across the country. hundreds of firefighters have been battling huge blazes that have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and destroyed dozens of properties. thick smoke is still pouring off the island of evia, north—east of athens, which has been ablaze for a week. simonjones reports. "a natural fury without precedent." that's how the greek prime minister has described the wildfires that have caused so much devastation. the battle to contain them continues on the island of evia. more than 500 blazes have broken out across the country in recent days. firefighters have been joined by local residents trying to make the area safe. climate change is real and the heat, the heat wave affected this. the heatwave affected this. we didn't see any rain to stop this fire. i used to run in this forest.

i used to cycle. we used to go and collect fruits. now everything is gone. where the fires have been contained, it's now a case of counting the cost to the environment and to property. homes ruined, residents and holidaymakers forced to flee. in athens, protests. these demonstrators say the government hadn't done enough to prepare for such a disaster. the prime minister has promised more money to tackle the fires and their aftermath. translation: it's obvious | that the climate crisis is now knocking on the door of the entire planet, with fires that last weeks. this is a reason, but it's not an excuse nor an alibi. and i will say it clearly. we may have done whatever is humanly possible, but in many cases that did not appear to be enough in the unequal battle with nature. the eu is mobilising what it calls one of the biggest common firefighting operations ever to help greece. but it is clear there will be many

more difficult days ahead. our correspondent bethany bell is on island of evia, one of the worst—hit areas. here on the island of evia, the situation appears to be somewhat stabilising. overnight, the wind has dropped and that has made the task of fighting these fires easier for the fire crews who have been working such long hours to try to bring these blazes under control. it has been eight days now that the fires have been raging out of control here on the island, causing disruption, making people leave their homes, leave their hotels. and we have seen local volunteers going to the front line of the fire with anything they can to try to extinguish it. we have seen people bringing their tractors with trucks with any kind of tank of water that they can put on it. and even taking little fire extinguishers that people

have in their homes or hotels, they have been those fire extinguishers, trying to put out the fire any way they can. desperate to try to save their forests, their homes and their property. and this is something that they are really hoping now will see the end of it. this has been, for the whole of greece, in the words of the prime minister, a nightmare of a summer. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. for many of us today, it's going to be a drier day than it was yesterday. we will see some sunshine but there are still a few showers in the forecast. some in the west, drifting eastwards through the day. they will be fairly well scattered. some heavier ones, potentially thundery, across the north—east of scotland. but in between, a lot of dry weather, a lot of bright weather and some sunshine. highs of up to 23 or 24 degrees. through this evening and overnight, we will hang on to some of the showers across the north—east. we will see some mist

and fog patches forming across eastern areas. the winds will pick up out towards the west, heralding the arrival of thicker cloud and some rain. so, as a result, it is not going to be a cold night. most places staying in double figures in towns and cities. tomorrow then, any mist and fog that formed overnight will lift quite rapidly. it will be a bright, if not sunny start in the east, but brisk winds accompanying this rain, pushing steadily eastwards through the course of the day. some drizzle in the midlands but brightening up in the far west later. hello this is bbc news. the headlines... top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high. but head teachers and students reject warnings of "grade inflation". everyone has gone through so much that no other year has ever had to go through and no one should have to feel like their grade isn't

worthy or they didn't deserve it. a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around seven million pounds from the failed finance company greensill. scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day — rather than the many months it often currently takes. london's tower bridge has reopened to traffic overnight after becoming stuck due to a technical problem. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's austin halewood. good morning. we're going to start with cricket because all—rounder moeen ali has been added to the england squad, for the second test against india,

which starts on thursday at lord's. he last played in a test match in february, during england's tour of india. he'lljoin the squad today and train with them this afternoon. head coach chris silverwood says he may well feature in the match. it's that something thatjoe and i are going to chat about, obviously, when we get to lord's, we'll have a sit down, have a coffee and go through the potential 11 for the lord's or the squad for lord's. we know he's a fine cricketer. he is showing fine form obviously in the hundred at the moment. i appreciate it's a different format but showing us what he can do there, so i think it's something that has to be in our mind. meanwhile, the international cricket council will bid for the sport's inclusion in the olympic games. the icc, say cricket has more than a billion fans world—wide and they see the games as part of its long—term future. they've set up a working group to lead the bid, which is focused on making the 2028 olympics in los angeles. it would end a 128—year wait for the sport to be included,

its only previous appearance coming in the 1900 games in paris. well, speaking of the olympics... we're still celebrating the achievements of team gb in tokyo, and today, we've been talking to keely hodgkinson. she broke the british record to win silver in the 800—metres, which she said was a real suprise, but she told us that she'd been feeling confident in the build—up to the games and that she always believed that she could make the podium, even though it was her first olympics... i think ithinkl i think i was definitely one of the underdogs going into that race but i wanted to put myself in a good position and put it all out there because that was a big opportunity for me, not many people get that opportunity at 19, so i wanted to take it and perform well. i wasn't the only 19—year—olds in the race, there was the american as well, which will be good battles for the next couple of years. making the record was something that i was shocked about. it has stood for so

long, since 95. ijust didn't know how things were going to go in the day on her races were going to be like, so i was shocked by that. i'm still processing it but it's been a good couple of days. we've also been talking tojennifer and jessica gadirova, the twins who helped britain win bronze in the gymnastics team all around event. performing alongside alice kinsella and amelie morgan, it was the first medal for team gb in that event for 93 years. the gadirovas now have their gsce results to look forward to, but they have a good idea of what their career will be and as they're only 16, they're stilljust enjoying their sport... people would say, oh, yes, you had so much potential, you're so talented. i think because we are still children, we let it go over our heads and we still enjoy gymnastics. we didn't say this, we have to make the olympics and didn't put pressure on ourselves because

sometimes when you do put pressure on yourself and it doesn't happen, it makes you more sad and you feel like you haven't accomplished anything. when you don't have that pressure and you let it do itself, it's more like it actually happened. i didn't pull sit. i think that such a great way. and britain's harriet dart is through to the second round of the wta tour event in montreal, after beating a player ranked more than 100 places above her. she'd come through two gruelling qualifiers before taking on canada's leylah fernandez and she won a close match in straight sets, despite struggling with a calf problem and needing a medical time—out in the second set. 7—5, 7—6 she won and she'll face bianca andrescu next. and reports suggest lionel messi has agreed a deal with paris saint—germain, subject to a medical. he's a free agent after leaving barcelona after 21 years — the club said last week that they couldn't afford to keep him.

of course, we will keep you it across that story as it develops but thatis across that story as it develops but that is but for now. there's been a record number of top a—level grades in england, wales and northern ireland this year, meaning the number of students applying to university is higher than it's ever been before. because of the pandemic, grades have been awarded based mainly on teacher assessments. our ireland correspondent chris page is at st ronan's college in lurgan. chris, how is it all going? welcome a little bit quieter— chris, how is it all going? welcome a little bit quieter now. _ chris, how is it all going? welcome a little bit quieter now. a _ chris, how is it all going? welcome a little bit quieter now. a few - a little bit quieter now. a few people are still coming in to pick up people are still coming in to pick up their results. throughout the morning, we have had a real sense of the nerves, the release and huge achievements that pupils have been enjoying and savouring in this couege enjoying and savouring in this college here in lurgan. this is one

of the biggest schools in northern ireland, so the pupils here have been among the 25,000 also students in northern ireland who have been getting their a—level results today. it has been a record—breaking year. let's talk to the principal. thank you for having us here on bbc news. a big day for your students and also a huge day for you and your staff, what are your thoughts at this stage? what are your thoughts at this staue? �* , , . what are your thoughts at this staue? h , ., ., what are your thoughts at this stare? �*, , ., ., stage? it's been a long time coming for the students _ stage? it's been a long time coming for the students who _ stage? it's been a long time coming for the students who have _ stage? it's been a long time coming for the students who have had - stage? it's been a long time coming for the students who have had a - stage? it's been a long time coming | for the students who have had a very tough _ for the students who have had a very tough year— for the students who have had a very tough year and for the students who have had a very tough yearand a for the students who have had a very tough year and a half, two years in their— tough year and a half, two years in their education. to get to this point — their education. to get to this point today is a great achievement for their— point today is a great achievement for their teachers, point today is a great achievement fortheirteachers, heads point today is a great achievement for their teachers, heads of departments, pupils themselves. it's a reel— departments, pupils themselves. it's a real celebration for us, chris. of a real celebration for us, chris. course, a real celebration for us, chris. of course, teachers have been calculating the grades this year, so a new experience. we calculating the grades this year, so a new experience.— calculating the grades this year, so a new experience. we did have this last ear a new experience. we did have this last year so — a new experience. we did have this last year so the _ a new experience. we did have this last year so the teachers _ a new experience. we did have this last year so the teachers had - last year so the teachers had assessed _ last year so the teachers had assessed the grades and we had done

it in the _ assessed the grades and we had done it in the college last year based on evidence _ it in the college last year based on evidence of people work, so this year. _ evidence of people work, so this year. our— evidence of people work, so this year, our staff were very well tuned into determining the grades that we believe _ into determining the grades that we believe the students should achieve and that— believe the students should achieve and that has all gone very smoothly. a lot of— and that has all gone very smoothly. a lot of hard — and that has all gone very smoothly. a lot of hard work, an awful lot of hard _ a lot of hard work, an awful lot of hard work— a lot of hard work, an awful lot of hard work to get to this point todav — hard work to get to this point toda . ., .., hard work to get to this point toda. ., . ., , hard work to get to this point toda. ., . ., i, , , today. you can certainly see plenty of 'o in today. you can certainly see plenty ofiov in the _ today. you can certainly see plenty ofjoy in the hall _ today. you can certainly see plenty of joy in the hall since _ today. you can certainly see plenty ofjoy in the hall since about - ofjoy in the hall since about 9:30am this morning, when your people started coming in. but ultimately there will be pupils who are disappointment, disappointed. i think this year there has been more anxiety— think this year there has been more anxiety than ever. the students didn't— anxiety than ever. the students didn't have the results to take forward — didn't have the results to take forward last year that other a—level students _ forward last year that other a—level students would be able to take through. — students would be able to take through, there are as—level. there was real— through, there are as—level. there was real pressure on our students and our— was real pressure on our students and our students were putting themselves under real pressure. so

as you _ themselves under real pressure. so as you say, — themselves under real pressure. so as you say, a — themselves under real pressure. so as you say, a real sense of relief and joy— as you say, a real sense of relief and joy to — as you say, a real sense of relief and joy to get this point. we have told att— and joy to get this point. we have told all of— and joy to get this point. we have told all of our students to be proud of work— told all of our students to be proud of work that they have achieved and they have _ of work that they have achieved and they have been supported by the school _ they have been supported by the school and their parents. we have had careers — school and their parents. we have had careers advisers on hand, heads of departments, senior staff, people who know— of departments, senior staff, people who know the students well and we already— who know the students well and we already knew who we would look after. _ already knew who we would look after. so — already knew who we would look after, so these conversations have started _ after, so these conversations have started we — after, so these conversations have started. we have said, we are here for you _ started. we have said, we are here for you over— started. we have said, we are here for you over the next coming days and weeks — for you over the next coming days and weeks. some of them may go through— and weeks. some of them may go through clearing but most of our students — through clearing but most of our students have actually achieved and .ot students have actually achieved and got onto _ students have actually achieved and got onto the course that they want, so we _ got onto the course that they want, so we will_ got onto the course that they want, so we will balance that and then we will look— so we will balance that and then we will look after those who are still anxious— will look after those who are still anxious and don't know their pathway for next _ anxious and don't know their pathway for next year. we are in all selective _ for next year. we are in all selective —— nonselective grammar school, _ selective —— nonselective grammar school, and — selective —— nonselective grammar school, and so we have a vast curriculum _ school, and so we have a vast curriculum offer, which really caters — curriculum offer, which really caters to _ curriculum offer, which really caters to all of our learners from the realty — caters to all of our learners from the really strong academic and pure

sciences, _ the really strong academic and pure sciences, to— the really strong academic and pure sciences, to btec courses and we have _ sciences, to btec courses and we have sports — sciences, to btec courses and we have sports courses. so we have children — have sports courses. so we have children today who are going off with our— children today who are going off with our course which is very successful— with our course which is very successful today to go on to university and access third level courses— university and access third level courses through a range of disciplines and a range of pathways, so we _ disciplines and a range of pathways, so we are _ disciplines and a range of pathways, so we are delighted.— so we are delighted. really good to talk to you- — so we are delighted. really good to talk to you. thank _ so we are delighted. really good to talk to you. thank you _ so we are delighted. really good to talk to you. thank you for - so we are delighted. really good to talk to you. thank you for having i talk to you. thank you for having us. it has been some 18 months and i'm sure you're looking forward to normality once the school year kicks off again. i normality once the school year kicks off a . ain. ~ normality once the school year kicks off a . ain. ,, ., normality once the school year kicks off aaain. ~ ., ., off again. i think we all are. across northern _ off again. i think we all are. across northern ireland, i off again. i think we all are. - across northern ireland, nearly 51% of a—level entries achieved at the top a* grades. to give your comparison last year, 45% the year before that, 2019, 30 2%. at as—level, about 74% were achieving a grades a or b grades. so very much to be happy about. grades a or b grades. so very much to be happy about-— to be happy about. thank you very much indeed- _

it's been a good day of results for many pupils today. among those celebrating their results are twin brothers emmanuel and ebenezer, who have got in to oxford and cambridge. emmanuel is off to oxford to study english literature and his brother will study russian and spanish. my colleague rebecca jones spoke to them earlier and started by asking them how they felt last night... i was quite nervous. i was trying to block it out in my mind, but the day before, it was quite hard to get to sleep. i think everybody across the country was really nervous. ebenezer, what about you? yes, i haven't really been thinking about it much but the day before, i started to think about it a bit more and it became a lot more real, so... this is a mean question and i don't mind which if you answer it but you are twins, you have both got your eyes set on the ultimate prize, did it ever occur to you, goodness, what's going to happen if one of us get the grades and the other one doesn't?

to be honest, not really. i was very confident that we would both get the grades. we both have lots of evidence in past examinations and i know my twin and i know he's capable, so it didn't come my mind. ebenezer, were you as confident? yes, i was very confident. it's been such an odd year though, hasn't it? it can't have been easy. ebenezer, how have you found it? yes, it's been really strange. we have _ yes, it's been really strange. we have had — yes, it's been really strange. we have had moments when we have had to bin online _ have had moments when we have had to bin online earning. there has been bubbtes _ bin online earning. there has been bubbles and isolating. there's been a lot of— bubbles and isolating. there's been a lot of disruption. we've had a lot of support — a lot of disruption. we've had a lot of support. we have had our mother at home _ of support. we have had our mother at home and — of support. we have had our mother at home and the school helping, so we have _ at home and the school helping, so we have managed. was at home and the school helping, so we have managed.— at home and the school helping, so we have managed. was that the same for ou, we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. _ we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. it _ we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. it has _ we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. it has been - we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. it has been such i we have managed. was that the same for you, emanuel. it has been such al for you, emanuel. it has been such a change pupils like you? yes. for you, emanuel. it has been such a change pupils like you?— change pupils like you? yes, from auoin change pupils like you? yes, from going from — change pupils like you? yes, from going from learning _ change pupils like you? yes, from going from learning in _ change pupils like you? yes, from going from learning in the - change pupils like you? yes, from i going from learning in the classroom to learning online, it is a bit harder to motivate yourself but we

had a really big support network with our school and then with our mother at home, so we always had people in our corner.— mother at home, so we always had people in our corner. however your friends then? _ people in our corner. however your friends then? the _ people in our corner. however your friends then? the general- people in our corner. however your i friends then? the general consensus i think is most _ friends then? the general consensus i think is most people _ friends then? the general consensus i think is most people are _ friends then? the general consensus i think is most people are quite - i think is most people are quite happy. i think is most people are quite ha . _ ., i think is most people are quite ha - . ., ., i think is most people are quite ha . . _ ., ., ., i think is most people are quite ha--. ., ., ., ., happy. you have all done well, 0k. and what are _ happy. you have all done well, 0k. and what are you _ happy. you have all done well, 0k. and what are you most _ happy. you have all done well, 0k. and what are you most looking - and what are you most looking forward to, ebenezer, first of all about going to cambridge? i am excited to meet _ about going to cambridge? i am excited to meet the _ about going to cambridge? i am excited to meet the people there and really _ excited to meet the people there and really delve into... i have never studied — really delve into... i have never studied russian before, so it will be interesting to delve into that. it will_ be interesting to delve into that. it will be — be interesting to delve into that. it will be intense. | be interesting to delve into that. it will be intense.— it will be intense. i have to ask ou, did it will be intense. i have to ask you. did you — it will be intense. i have to ask you. did you at _ it will be intense. i have to ask you, did you at any _ it will be intense. i have to ask you, did you at any point - it will be intense. i have to ask i you, did you at any point consider going to the same university or did you deliberately choose different ones? ., , , ., ' ones? so, initially, in year12, i was considering _ ones? so, initially, in year12, i was considering cambridge - ones? so, initially, in year12, i was considering cambridge but| ones? so, initially, in year12, i. was considering cambridge but the oxford african caribbean society...

i really like the atmosphere there and the student body and there were slight differences in the course with oxford that i preferred, so i changed from cambridge to oxford. so, it sounds ebenezer that you could have ended up at the same university. would that have been nice or do you fancy being a part for a bit? i nice or do you fancy being a part for a bit? ~' ._ for a bit? i think either way it would have — for a bit? i think either way it would have been _ for a bit? i think either way it would have been quite - for a bit? i think either way it would have been quite nice i for a bit? i think either way it i would have been quite nice but for a bit? i think either way it. would have been quite nice but i for a bit? i think either way it - would have been quite nice but i was hoping _ would have been quite nice but i was hoping that— would have been quite nice but i was hoping that he would apply to cambridge at the end. it would be nice that — cambridge at the end. it would be nice that we have time apart to grow separately_ nice that we have time apart to grow separately but at the same time, we will still— separately but at the same time, we will still be _ separately but at the same time, we will still be in contact all of the time _ will still be in contact all of the time. ~ ., , ., ., time. wonderful news for those two brothers. let's talk about t levels. there are an alternative to a levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. they're equivalent to 3 a levels, and focus on vocational skills — and can help students into skilled employment, higherstudy or apprenticeships.

an we can speak now to sam corneby — a t—level student from suffolk. sam, thank you for speaking to us here on bbc news. first off, have you got your results this year or will it be next year? irate you got your results this year or will it be next year?— you got your results this year or will it be next year? we have taken some examinations _ will it be next year? we have taken some examinations but _ will it be next year? we have taken some examinations but that - will it be next year? we have taken some examinations but that is - will it be next year? we have taken some examinations but that isjust| some examinations but that is just for predicted grades. we will be getting our main result at the end of next year. i getting our main result at the end of next year-— of next year. t levels are a two-year _ of next year. t levels are a two-year course, - of next year. t levels are a two-year course, and - of next year. t levels are a l two-year course, and they? of next year. t levels are a - two-year course, and they? yes. try wh did two-year course, and they? yes. try why did you — two-year course, and they? yes. try why did you choose _ two-year course, and they? yes. try why did you choose t _ two-year course, and they? yes. try why did you choose t levels - two-year course, and they? yes. try why did you choose t levels because| why did you choose t levels because i understand that you also did a levels, so it wasn't like it was a alternative? i took physics, chemistry and design and technology for a—level. chemistry and design and technology fora—level. i chemistry and design and technology for a—level. i got two seas and ad. i wasn't —— it wasn't anything

fantastic but i looked at my options and initially really like the idea of an apprenticeship but i was looking at an engineering course for the college that i am at now. i was suggested a t levels because it's a equivalent grade but you get 315 hours of work experience involved in the course. hours of work experience involved in the course-— the course. approximately 45 days, which is 315 — the course. approximately 45 days, which is 315 hours. _ the course. approximately 45 days, which is 315 hours. what _ the course. approximately 45 days, which is 315 hours. what benefit - the course. approximately 45 days, which is 315 hours. what benefit do| which is 315 hours. what benefit do you think you gained by doing a t level? it you think you gained by doing a t level? . , you think you gained by doing a t level? ., , ., . you think you gained by doing a t level? ., , .,. ., ., ., level? it was the fact that i and am cominu level? it was the fact that i and am coming out — level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of _ level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of a — level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of a levels, _ level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of a levels, i _ level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of a levels, i had - level? it was the fact that i and am coming out of a levels, i had not i coming out of a levels, i had not had the best of runs from a general drop in my grades because i had had pretty good grades in gcse and then to not do so well at a—level, it's kind of shook me up slightly. so, i thought rather than push myself to a

breaking point and mejustjumping into university or an apprenticeship, i would look at something slightly lower down, kind of research and prove that i have the technical knowledge and know—how and say that i am still this fantastic student that i thought i was. . y fantastic student that i thought i was. . , ., fantastic student that i thought i was. absolutely. you read'usted and ou took was. absolutely. you read'usted and you took the — was. absolutely. you read'usted and you took the next * was. absolutely. you read'usted and you took the next step, _ was. absolutely. you readjusted and you took the next step, which - was. absolutely. you readjusted and you took the next step, which is - you took the next step, which is great to know and what life is all about to be honest with you. in terms of the choice and the options on the list, i know it is expanding this year but did you feel as if the subjects on that list last year were enough for you?— subjects on that list last year were enough for you? there's definitely a lot out for anyone _ enough for you? there's definitely a lot out for anyone who _ enough for you? there's definitely a lot out for anyone who wants - enough for you? there's definitely a lot out for anyone who wants to - enough for you? there's definitely a lot out for anyone who wants to find j lot out for anyone who wants to find something. i'm on construction building technology but thatjust applied to my engineering kind of know—how that i wanted to go into. just to give us both my interest and

both my grandad and dad went into the industry, so itjust seemed like the industry, so itjust seemed like the perfect course for me. can i finish off very — the perfect course for me. can i finish off very quickly, - the perfect course for me. can i finish off very quickly, have - the perfect course for me. can i finish off very quickly, have you j finish off very quickly, have you started your industry placement yet as part of the t level? ila. started your industry placement yet as part of the t level?— as part of the t level? no, we are doinu as part of the t level? no, we are doing mock _ as part of the t level? no, we are doing mock interviews, _ as part of the t level? no, we are doing mock interviews, so - as part of the t level? no, we are | doing mock interviews, so practice interviews with people who are offering with them and then you apply to them and they will choose you. so, iam hopefully looking to go into civil engineering but i can only hope that. you go into civil engineering but i can only hope that-— only hope that. you will be fine. good luck _ only hope that. you will be fine. good luck with _ only hope that. you will be fine. good luck with it _ only hope that. you will be fine. good luck with it and _ only hope that. you will be fine. good luck with it and thank - only hope that. you will be fine. good luck with it and thank you | only hope that. you will be fine. i good luck with it and thank you for your time. marshall motors, one of the largest car dealerships in the uk, has announced its half year results today. the company is the biggest seller of electric vehicles in the country. our correspondent ben thompson can tell us more. good morning. yes, an interesting

one because it tells us a little bit about what we are all thinking as far as spending is concerned. are we putting our hands in our pockets and prepared to buy these big ticket items like cars. they said that sales of new cars are a 46% and used cars up by 51%. so, what does it tell us about how we are thinking about the economy? dash, moaning to you. so, a good set of figures for the first part of the year. what does it tell us about people's willingness to have a little bit of money in their pockets and go out and spend it?— money in their pockets and go out and send it? _, ., ., ., ., ~ and spend it? good morning and thank ou for and spend it? good morning and thank you for having — and spend it? good morning and thank you for having me _ and spend it? good morning and thank you for having me on _ and spend it? good morning and thank you for having me on the _ and spend it? good morning and thank you for having me on the show. - and spend it? good morning and thank you for having me on the show. i - you for having me on the show. i think the numbers really tell us a different story. there are a lot of dynamics in the background. to put some context on it, you mentioned our revenue. we are led by 1.33 billion. that said by 49%. let's not forget that last year was clearly impacted by the pandemic. i think

the new carfigures impacted by the pandemic. i think the new car figures are 46% up but of course this is a result of the pandemic last year. we are also seeing some dynamics about shortages on account of global shortages which has played a role in the used car markets, which is that by over 50% for us. forthe markets, which is that by over 50% for us. for the first time in history, the scale of unprecedented used—car appreciation that we have never seen before. from april through to august, used cars were appreciated by 17% and in terms of spending, people have got a lot of cash. they cannot spend it on things like foreign travel and i think a lot of people really want to treat themselves, i guess.— lot of people really want to treat themselves, i guess. yes, it's so interesting- _ themselves, i guess. yes, it's so interesting. that _ themselves, i guess. yes, it's so interesting. that idea _ themselves, i guess. yes, it's so interesting. that idea is - themselves, i guess. yes, it's so interesting. that idea is that - themselves, i guess. yes, it's so | interesting. that idea is that used cars can actually go up in value instead of falling. it's those chips

that are used in cars through the satnav and the engine and there has been a real shortage of those and that means that you just can't get some new cars. that means that you 'ust can't get some new oars._ some new cars. yes, i think we in the uk have _ some new cars. yes, i think we in the uk have probably _ some new cars. yes, i think we in the uk have probably been - some new cars. yes, i think we in i the uk have probably been insulative from this a little bit because we started picking up commentary on this at the start of the year but let's not forget that all of the manufacturer stockpiled in november and december in the event of it be a world position if there was a no—deal brexit. of course, that did not happen and so the uk handed over that oversupply of stock. at as we have gone through the year,... we have gone through the year,... we have seen that happen and if you look at the data that was released yesterday, it was down 29.5%. last year, we experienced a big bounce

once everything reopened. this is going to impact the second half of the year. going to impact the second half of the ear. . , going to impact the second half of the ear. ., , ., ., ,, ., the year. really good to talk to ou. the year. really good to talk to you- thank _ the year. really good to talk to you- thank you _ the year. really good to talk to you. thank you so _ the year. really good to talk to you. thank you so much - the year. really good to talk to you. thank you so much for- the year. really good to talk to l you. thank you so much for your time. the chief executive of marshall motors. one thing that we are all keeping our eye on of course is the sales of electric cars and we saw that really dramatic environmental report yesterday and we know that countries around the world are trying reduce their carbon emissions but sales of electric cars remain a very low proportion of new cars that are sold, just 1.3% of used car sales were electric as well, so a lot of work to be done there to encourage more people to buy electric cars. that anxiety is still a big problem, buy electric cars. that anxiety is stilla big problem, can buy electric cars. that anxiety is still a big problem, can you go the distance and electric car? the manufacturers say yes but a lot of users thank you card. thank you very much, ben. for people living with dementia, the path to a crucial

diagnosis can take months, sometimes even years. but now scientists in cambridge are testing artificial intelligence that could pick up the disease in a single day — something researchers say could greatly improve patient outcomes. here's our science correspondent pallab ghosh. careful over here. penelope clark noticed that her husband, dennis, began to forget things last year. how can i say it? it was... it was as though my brain was telling me to do things, yeah, but it doesn't... difficult for him to actually explain what happens, really. they're concerned that he's developing some form of dementia. it does mean that i understand that we would probably have to sell our house to pay for my husband's care. thanks for coming with me today. the couple are taking part in trials of a new system that will be able to tell not only whether dennis has some form of dementia, but how quickly it's

likely to develop. have you got any questions about it at all? _ no, i think it's fantastic. if you had a diagnosis that gave you some indication of the progression, would that be of help? well, then we could, you know, plan financially as well as, as a couple to be able to perhaps have a few holidays before things got bad that i couldn't take dennis on holiday. dennis's brain scan will be analysed by an artificial intelligence computer programme. it compares his scan with those of thousands of other dementia patients. in preclinical tests, it's been able to diagnose dementia years before symptoms develop. and even when there's no obvious sign of damage on the brain scan. it's also been shown to predict whether the condition will remain stable for several years, progress slowly or require immediate treatment. it's fantastic, really, - because these set of diseases are really devastating for many people. - if you have a diagnosis i

of dementia, that's a big thing to take on board. so, you know, when i'm delivering this diagnosis, anything _ which i can do to be more confident about that, to give people - more information, to help them and i plan their lives is a great thing i to be able to do. and the new technique can give results much faster. currently, it can take several scans and many other tests to find out whether someone has dementia. the new artificial intelligence system can potentially pick it up with just one scan, and it can pick it up much earlier in the progression of the disease. the researcher who led the development of the system believes that early and accurate diagnosis of dementia will make treatments much more effective. if we intervene early, the treatments can kick in early and slow down the progression and at the same time avoid more damage happening to the brain. and it's likely that then symptoms might occur much later in life

or there may actually never occur. the system is currently being tested to see if it works just as well in a clinical setting as it has in the lab. ready, steady, go. at this stage, only dennis's doctor will be given the result to help him decide the best course of treatment. but if the artificial intelligence system is found to be reliable, it'll make a big difference to dennis and millions like him. pallab ghosh, bbc news, cambridge. london's tower bridge has reopened to traffic overnight after becoming stuck due to a technical problem. the 127—year—old crossing became jammed after allowing a tall ship through yesterday afternoon. a "technicalfailure" is being blamed for the major disruption. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again.

for many of us today, it is going to be a drier day than it was yesterday. we will see some sunshine but there are a few showers in the forecast. some heavier potentially thundery across the north—east of scotland. in between, a lot of dry weather, a lot of bright weather and some sunshine with highs up to 23 or 24 degrees. through this evening and overnight, we will hang on to some of the showers across the north—east. we will see some mist and fog patches across other areas. thicker cloud and some rain will mean it won't be a cold night with most places staying in double figures in towns and cities. tomorrow, any mist and fog that formed overnight will lift rapidly. brisk winds accompanying this rain, pushing steadily eastwards through the course of the day. brightening up the course of the day. brightening up in the far west later.

this is bbc news. the headlines: top marks for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high. head teachers and students reject warnings of "grade inflation". everyone has gone through so much that no other year has had to go through and no—one should feel that their grade isn't worthy or they don't deserve it. and we'll be answering your questions about results, and university at 12:30 with the boss of ucas. get in touch using the hashtag bbcyourquestions or email yourquestions@bbc.co.uk a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york,

accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around million —— £7 millionfrom the failed finance company greensill. —— £7 million from the failed finance company greensill. scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day — rather than the many months it often currently takes. the proportion of a—level entries awarded one of the top two grades has risen to an all—time high in england, wales and northern ireland, after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row

because of the covid—19 pandemic. there was also a record proportion of a—grades in scotland. south of the border, nearly 45% of a—level students received as and a*s. that's up from 38.5%, last year — an increase of 6.3%. last summer, after a u—turn over a—level results, record numbers of top grades were awarded — with 38.6% of entrants achieving an a* or a grade. this year's grades — at 44.8% — are even higher — and represent a 75% increase over the last two yea rs. with official exams scrapped this year, marks have been awarded based mainly on teacher assessment. the education secretary for england, gavin williamson, has urged against "talking down" their achievements. scottish national 5s passes are down to 86% —

that's a 3% drop on last year. but there are a record number — at 47% — of a grades this year. scottish highers pass rates are at 87% — a 2% drop. there was also a 2% drop to 91% in advanced highers. vocational 'btec�* results are also out today. students will also find the results for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships. young people are being urged to "explore all the options open to them" when they receive their results.

we've been talking to students around the country, including in winchester and lurgan. i got to add a and two b. i got a“ and to a grades. _ i got to add a and two b. i got a“ and to a grades. i _ i got to add a and two b. i got a“ and to a grades. i worked - i got to add a and two b. i got a“ and to a grades. i worked really| and to a grades. i worked really hard _ and to a grades. i worked really hard through lockdown and it clearly paid off _ hard through lockdown and it clearly paid off. everyone has gone through so much _ paid off. everyone has gone through so much that no other year has ever had to— so much that no other year has ever had to go— so much that no other year has ever had to go through and no one should feel that _ had to go through and no one should feel that their grade is and what the other— feel that their grade is and what the other did not deserve it. what does today mean to you? it sort ofthe what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of — what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of the _ what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of the rest _ what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of the rest of _ what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of the rest of my - what does today mean to you? it sort of the start of the rest of my life - of the start of the rest of my life and allow me to get to the next step to start my apprenticeship and double chin up for four years and

become a qualified accountant and then have a guaranteed job and be in then have a guaranteed job and be in the workplace. and if you have received your exam results today, and have any questions about university, we'd like to hear from you. at 12:30 we'll put them to our clare marchant, chief executive of ucas. you can get in touch on twitter using the hashtag bbcyourquestions and you can email us on yourquestions@bbc.co.uk our education correspondent sean dilley is at a sixth form college in winchester. ican i can tell you that it has been a joyous day with so many ecstatic students here. it has been many years since you and i were at an establishment such as this getting a result and my goodness has been very different for the students who have lived through the pandemic but 44.8% picking up. grades of a*a

lived through the pandemic but 44.8% picking up. grades of a* a and. lived through the pandemic but 44.8% picking up. grades of a*a and. in 2019 people got about 25% so that is quite the increase. while grade inflation is something people have been reason, the teaching unions have pointed out the way the exams are assessed this year by teachers, by coursework and some institutions like the college where we are, the largest a—level clearing centre in the country, by mock exams under exam conditions to help inform them. we don't need to take my word on this one. we are going to meet a very happy principal and chief executive. what is the last year been like for you? i executive. what is the last year been like for you?— executive. what is the last year been like for you? i cannot claim it has not been _ been like for you? i cannot claim it has not been challenging. - been like for you? i cannot claim it has not been challenging. for- been like for you? i cannot claim it has not been challenging. for the. has not been challenging. for the circumstances that have arisen during the period of the pandemic have been difficult, regular changes to guidance and regular changes in circumstances have meant we have had to be leading adaptable and swift and our students know exactly what is going on. but we have written to

the challenge. i'm extremely proud of all our students and staff and the resilience and creativity they have shown over the last 18 months has been incredible and i am a very proud principal today in terms of the results and also in terms of everything they have achieved over the last year. everything they have achieved over the last year-— the last year. they were speaking very highly _ the last year. they were speaking very highly of _ the last year. they were speaking very highly of the _ the last year. they were speaking very highly of the teaching - the last year. they were speaking very highly of the teaching staff i very highly of the teaching staff supporting them. i was wondering if you knew if there were any post—pandemic lessons using the govan mantra to build back better, as anything better compared to the traditional exams we all feared over the years? traditional exams we all feared over the ears? . �* , traditional exams we all feared over the ears? ., �*, ., ., , the years? that's a really interesting _ the years? that's a really interesting question. - the years? that's a really i interesting question. clearly the years? that's a really - interesting question. clearly i think the teacher assessed grades has benefits. it's a more realistic approach. we have traditionally used coursework and teacher assessment over the years to assess student grades and student standards so i think there are lessons we can learn to continue using them. having said that, a final examination series final examination assessment does help employers and universities to make fair comparisons between the

results, grades and institutions and in terms of supporting students to progress onto the chosen destination.— progress onto the chosen destination. �* , ., ., ., destination. i'm 'ust going to ask ou to destination. i'm just going to ask you to everybody _ destination. i'm just going to ask you to everybody looking - destination. i'm just going to ask you to everybody looking people | destination. i'm just going to ask i you to everybody looking people in the eye from different years seeing we have —— who say we have worked just as hard, what would you say? might our students have to be incredibly proud of their achievements and we have worked very hard and incredibly difficult circumstances and have some fantastic raids. they need to go out and celebrate it because they absolutely need to do that, they are stars. i have spoken to a lot of students who much more sedate than my years are planning nice meals with families. i have only spoken to one who has admitted going out and having a few beverages. for more on this year's exam results across the uk, including how grades have been decided, how to appeal and other questions, go to the bbc news website at bbc.co.uk/news or

visit the bbc news app. we have some breaking news. it has been reported a female pedestrian has been killed and two other people injured in our crash involving two buses at victoria bus station in central london. that being confirmed by the metropolitan police. we understand the victim is believed to be in her 30s and was pronounced dead at the scene at nine o'clock this morning. we will have more than that incident as we get it. a woman from the us has filed a civil lawsuit in new york,

accusing prince andrew of sexual abuse. in a statement, virginia roberts giuffre claims she was trafficked to the prince by the convicted paedophile jeffrey epstein, when she was 17. the case describes the alleged events as "extreme and outrageous conduct" and that they caused ms giuffre "significant emotional and psychological distress and harm" .the documents read, "in this country no person, whether president or prince, is above the law, and no person, no matter how powerless or vulnerable, can be deprived of the law's protection." the duke of york has consistently denied the allegations. in november 2019 newsnight�*s emily maitlis spoke to prince andrew about ms giuffre's allegations. do you remember meeting her at all? no. you can say categorically that you do not recall meeting virginia roberts, dining with her...

yep. — ..dancing with her at tramp... yep. ..or going on to have sex with her... yes. ..in a bedroom in a house in belgravia? i can absolutely, categorically, tell you it never happened. - do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts then or at any other time? none whatsoever. our correspondent matt cole has been giving me more details about this story. these are not new allegations, we should make that clear. we had the rebuttal and denialfrom prince andrew previously. what these are are claims we have heard before put in a civil lawsuit due to a piece of law, the new york state child victim act, a piece of legislation that says over a period of a year you can file time—barred or expired claims of abuse of this nature. the window is about to close so hence these claims be made before.

thatjeffrey epstein forced virginia roberts to have sex with prince andrew when she was 17 in three locations — at the london home of epstein associate ghislaine maxwell and at epstein's homes in manhattan and little stjames in the us virgin islands. it is also alleged prince andrew knew she was a sex trafficking victim and was under age and she did not consent to these acts.

how long is something like this likely to take? how often do civil cases get as far as the courts? this could be something that goes on for quite some time. we have heard today from a spokesman for prince andrew who has given a very short statement which is no comment to these claims put within these documents. but there are still other legal criminal inquiries that have been taking place into this which under the us system could take precedence over something like this so depending on how those enquiries progress and how this goes forward, this is not something i would expect we would be seeing an imminent resolution to butjust to to stress again prince andrew has emphatically and consistently denied these allegations and as we know from today we don't appear to be getting any further comment to add to what we have had from him but 15 pages of documents. jeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell are named. but the only person the documents are targetted at is prince andrew. david cameron made around £7 million

from greensill capital before the controversial finance company collapsed earlier this year — that's according to documents obtained by bbc panorama. the former prime minister had lobbied the government on behalf of the company — which made its money by lending to businesses — and has repeatedly refused to tell mps what he was paid by greensill. a spokesman for mr cameron said his remuneration was a private matter. well our economics correspondent andy verity — who has been leading the panorama investigation — spoke to me a little earlier. we got hold of a letter from greensill capital to david cameron which indicates he was getting $4.5 million after tax after he cashed in greensill in 2019, selling them back to the company. he was paid a salary of $1 million per year as a part—time adviser and on top of that we understand

he was paid a bonus of $700,000 in 2019. in total about $10 million which is about £7.5 million. greensill collapsed in march of this year. weren't they? that's right and that is one of the reasons this is so controversial. we have been taking a close look at some of the greensill investment schemes. david cameron has told us he wasn't involved in any lending decisions but became aware that greensill which takes money from investors and [ends it to company waiting to be paid

too much cash to businessman sanjiv gupta who had made about $5 million from borrowing from greensill and they knew that his business was in financial trouble at the start of 2020 because it was unable to make payments on the greensill loans but investors as greensill used their own cash to cover the investments that repayments could not be made.

an e—mail said it is not even robbing peter to pay paul, it is a recirculation of greensill funds. and another e—mail says administration may be required. instead of raising the alarm, greensill capital decided to look for a new investor, the uk government and that is where you see all these texts and e—mails and david cameron sent 56 messages lobbying ministers and civil servants to get the bank of england to launch more than £50 million in greensill loans. that was turned down but injune the uk government allowed greensill to be accredited to make coronavirus emergency loans which were backed by an guarantee. greensill made loans to companies associated with sanjiv gupta and all have failed to make the repayments of that has been suspended while investigated and it has been challenged. we also find out the taxpayer could still be on the hook for £320 million. the serious fraud office is in investigating and

for £320 million. the serious fraud office is investigating and including gfg and its finance arrangements. and there is more on this story in "david cameron and the missing billions" — which is available to watch online via bbc iplayer. the headlines on bbc news. top grades for a—level results for england, the headlines on bbc news. top grades for a—level results for england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high — with 44.8% getting a* or a grades. a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. more questions for david cameron after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around £7 million from the failed finance company greensill. sport, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's austin. reports in spain and france suggest

lionel messi has officiallyjoined paris st germain on a two—year deal. thank you very much forjoining us. the rumours say it is concerned. you know what i will ask yet layback next. is it a done deal? it is know what i will ask yet layback next. is it a done deal?- next. is it a done deal? it is a done deal- — next. is it a done deal? it is a done deal. it _ next. is it a done deal? it is a done deal. it is _ next. is it a done deal? it is a done deal. it is all— next. is it a done deal? it is a done deal. it is all happening| next. is it a done deal? it is a i done deal. it is all happening of course. it is a two plus one deal which means that the third year, they will have to agree about the two years he wanted. he wanted barcelona as well, that was his first choice but his dad and representative are in the airport on their way to paris. then there will be a medical and representation. everything was getting ready this morning, all the entrants to the stadium was being cleaned and you can see if you can in the first

hours of the morning it was mostly just police a notice of fans and media. first about five cameras are no 15. it will grow because paris st germain has got lionel messi. irate no 15. it will grow because paris st germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears — germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears at — germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears at the _ germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears at the weekend _ germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears at the weekend when - germain has got lionel messi. we saw him in tears at the weekend when he i him in tears at the weekend when he said farewell to barcelona, his boyhood club. they could not afford to many more. was paris the only option? i to many more. was paris the only 0 tion? ~ . , to many more. was paris the only otion? ~ .,, ., , option? i think it was the only 0 tion option? i think it was the only option right — option? i think it was the only option right now. _ option? i think it was the only option right now. there - option? i think it was the only option right now. there were | option? i think it was the only - option right now. there were calls from others, a couple from england, but there was no real choice because finance certainly plays a role. paris st germain certainly had our role in case —— plan in case lionel messi did not stay at barcelona. five days ago when he was going to go out and play in ibiza, neymar

gave him a call and said we will all go together. paris were saying, thus, it will be great. he told them it is agreed. —— mike five weeks ago. they had to deal with barcelona but it could not be agreed by la liga. after that it was a matter of looking around and i think the fact that neymar as they are and other friends, plus it is a team that can win things, paris st germain was really at the end of the last option. really at the end of the last 0 tion. ., ., , ., , option. you mentioned neymar, they are close friends _ option. you mentioned neymar, they are close friends and _ option. you mentioned neymar, they are close friends and he _ option. you mentioned neymar, they are close friends and he has - option. you mentioned neymar, they are close friends and he has already i are close friends and he has already played with him before. paris st germain will have some team this season. ., �* ., ., season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair— season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair play _ season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair play to _ season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair play to work, - season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair play to work, not. season. not bad. don't forget for financial fair play to work, not so | financial fair play to work, not so much in france where financial fair

play is on par is, for uefa they will have to get rid of a few players. —— mike financialfair play is paused. you have to go to social media. the debate is already in the street. mbappe, neymarand lionel messi, the best trio and history i would say. we'll see how far they can go. reports in spain and france suggest that lionel messi will be joining

paris st germain on a two—year deal. greece's prime minister has apologised for failures in tackling the wildfires tearing across the country. hundreds of firefighters have been battling huge blazes that have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and destroyed dozens of properties. thick smoke is still pouring off the island of evia, north—east of athens, which has been ablaze for a week. simonjones reports. "a natural fury without precedent." that's how the greek prime minister has described the wildfires that have caused so much devastation. the battle to contain them continues on the island of evia. more than 500 blazes have broken out across the country in recent days. firefighters have been joined by local residents trying to make the area safe. climate change is real and the heat,

the heatwave affected this. we didn't see any rain to stop this fire. i used to run in this forest. i used to cycle. we used to go and collect fruits. now everything is gone. where the fires have been contained, it's now a case of counting the cost to the environment and to property. homes ruined, residents and holidaymakers forced to flee. in athens, protests. these demonstrators say the government hadn't done enough to prepare for such a disaster. the prime minister has promised more money to tackle the fires and their aftermath. translation: it's obvious | that the climate crisis is now knocking on the door of the entire planet, with fires that last weeks. this is a reason, but it's not an excuse nor an alibi. and i will say it clearly. we may have done whatever is humanly possible, but in many cases that did not appear to be enough in the unequal battle with nature. the eu is mobilising what it calls

one of the biggest common firefighting operations ever to help greece. but it is clear there will be many more difficult days ahead. for people living with dementia, the path to a crucial diagnosis can take months, sometimes even years. but now scientists in cambridge are testing artificial intelligence that could pick up the disease in a single day — something researchers say could greatly improve patient outcomes. here's our science correspondent pallab ghosh. careful over here. penelope clark noticed that her husband, dennis, began to forget things last year. how can i say it? it was... it was as though my brain was telling me to do things, yeah, but it doesn't... difficult for him to actually explain what happens, really. they're concerned that he's developing some form of dementia. it does mean that i understand

that we would probably have to sell our house to pay for my husband's care. thanks for coming with me today. the couple are taking part in trials of a new system that will be able to tell not only whether dennis has some form of dementia, but how quickly it's likely to develop. have you got any questions about it at all? _ no, i think it's fantastic. if you had a diagnosis that gave you some indication of the progression, would that be of help? well, then we could, you know, plan financially as well as, as a couple to be able to perhaps have a few holidays before things got bad that i couldn't take dennis on holiday. dennis's brain scan will be analysed by an artificial intelligence computer programme. it compares his scan with those of thousands of other dementia patients. in preclinical tests, it's been able to diagnose dementia years before symptoms develop. and even when there's no obvious sign of damage on the brain scan.

it's also been shown to predict whether the condition will remain stable for several years, progress slowly or require immediate treatment. it's fantastic, really, - because these set of diseases are really devastating for many people. - if you have a diagnosis i of dementia, that's a big thing to take on board. so, you know, when i'm delivering this diagnosis, anything _ which i can do to be more confident about that, to give people - more information, to help them and i plan their lives is a great thing i to be able to do. and the new technique can give results much faster. currently, it can take several scans and many other tests to find out whether someone has dementia. the new artificial intelligence system can potentially pick it up with just one scan, and it can pick it up much earlier in the progression of the disease. the researcher who led the development of the system believes that early and accurate diagnosis of dementia will make treatments much more effective.

if we intervene early, the treatments can kick in early and slow down the progression and at the same time avoid more damage happening to the brain. and it's likely that then symptoms might occur much later in life or there may actually never occur. the system is currently being tested to see if it works just as well in a clinical setting as it has in the lab. ready, steady, go. at this stage, only dennis's doctor will be given the result to help him decide the best course of treatment. but if the artificial intelligence system is found to be reliable, it'll make a big difference to dennis and millions like him. pallab ghosh, bbc news, cambridge. we have a little more detail on the breaking news it was reported within the last

half—hour that a female pedestrian was killed two other people had been injured in a crash involving two buses and victoria bus station. that is a major terminus in central london. this was confirmed by the metropolitan police. let's get more from a statement that has just been provided to us by the metropolitan police. they confirmed they were called at 25 minutes past eight this morning, the 10th of august, two reports of a collision involving two buses and three pedestrians outside victoria railway station. emergency services attended and immediately provided first aid. one of the pedestrians, believed to be aged in her 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene, at nine o'clock this morning. her next of kin have yet to be

informed. two other people were treated for nonlife threatening injuries. terminus place is currently closed two buses which is important if you're travelling because victoria railway station is also connected to victoria tube station. more of this exactly where and when we get it. i believe we are going to go to paris and this is lionel messi who has arrived, i believe. he is at barcelona airport. we have just had the news that joining his move to paris st germain has now been confirmed, we had that from the bbc sport centre. quite a crowd there to see him off from barcelona. of course, he was part of that press conference, where he bid farewell to his team and all of his

fans and a very tearful farewell it was as well. if we get better pictures, we will bring them to you. but we saw him get off that bus there with his family, heading to paris, we suspect. now it's time for a look at the weather with there are still a few showers in the forecast. some in the west drifting eastwards today. some could be heavy and potentially thundery across the north—east of scotland. in between, a lot of dry and bright weather and some sunshine with highs of up to 23 or 24 degrees. through this evening and overnight, we will hang on to some of the showers across the north—east. we will see some mist and fog patches forming across other eastern areas. the wind will pick out towards the west, heralding the arrival of thicker cloud and some rain. it will not be a cold night with most places staying in double figures in towns and cities. tomorrow, any mist and fog formed

overnight will lift quite rapidly. brisk winds accompanying this rain pushing steadily eastward through the course of the day. some drizzle in the midlands but brightening up in the midlands but brightening up in the midlands but brightening up in the far west later. this is bbc news. the headlines... top grades as a—level results are published for england, wales and northern ireland. it's another record year with 44.8% of students achieving an a* or a grade. everyone has gone through so much that no other year has ever had to go through and no one should have to feel like their grade isn't worthy or they didn't deserve it. a lawsuit is filed by a woman in new york, accusing prince andrew of historical sexual abuse. more questions for david cameron, after documents obtained by the bbc suggest he made around seven million pounds from the failed finance company greensill.

scientists begin trials of an artificial intelligence system that may be able to diagnose dementia in a single day — rather than the many months it often currently takes. thousands of students have received their results today, and more than 435,000 people have been accepted on university courses. pupils have also been receiving their btec and apprenticeship results. many of them will have questions about their future, and we can answer some of them now in 'your questions answered'. with me to answer your questions is clare marchant, the chief executive at ucas. thank you very much forjoining us

here on bbc news. before we start, there is a little bit of confusion. ucas is notjust about universities, is it? ucas is not 'ust about universities, is it? ~ ucas is not 'ust about universities, isit? ., _ ., is it? well, we obviously facilitate that whole exploration _ is it? well, we obviously facilitate that whole exploration process i is it? well, we obviously facilitate| that whole exploration process for 18—year—olds and mature students, going to traditional three—year undergraduate disease degrees —— degrees. we are going to start off with our first degrees. we are going to start off with ourfirst question. degrees. we are going to start off with our first question. it degrees. we are going to start off with our first question.— with our first question. it comes from manchester _ with our first question. it comes from manchester and _ with our first question. it comes from manchester and he - with our first question. it comes from manchester and he says i with our first question. it comes i from manchester and he says what if you fail? will i have to repeat or will i continue to my university or —— or college? it will i continue to my university or -- or college?— will i continue to my university or -- or college? it has been a really difficult year _ -- or college? it has been a really difficult year for _ -- or college? it has been a really difficult year for students, - -- or college? it has been a really difficult year for students, so i -- or college? it has been a really difficult year for students, so my i difficult yearfor students, so my empathy for them. it has been difficult for everyone in society but particularly our young people. if you didn't get what you needed,

there are lots of options. if you really feel you have, i think the words were fail in that question, you have the repeat process although i would note caution about that and it is about technicalities and the fact that your grade could go down. there are also exams and the fact that you can retake, so that's another route to be reconsidered. it does depend on how much he missed those great buy. obviously, clearing as an option when that opens at two o'clock. , ., , ., o'clock. our next question is on clearinu. o'clock. our next question is on clearing- how— o'clock. our next question is on clearing. how does _ o'clock. our next question is on clearing. how does the - o'clock. our next question is on clearing. how does the clearing j clearing. how does the clearing system work for a student who deferred university to next year to have an interim gapped year? and they still be offered a place by the clearing system? it they still be offered a place by the clearing system?— they still be offered a place by the clearing system? it does depend if the are clearing system? it does depend if they are looking _ clearing system? it does depend if they are looking for— clearing system? it does depend if they are looking for another i they are looking for another deferred place or not. what i would suggest that they do is that you

ring the university and you ask them in the first instance. they can use clearing. if they are using clearing for a place this year, then that is fairly straight forward in terms of moving forward but if they are looking for another deferred place, i would speak to the universities involved in the first instance. that would be my advice.— involved in the first instance. that would be my advice. another person in manchester _ would be my advice. another person in manchester says _ would be my advice. another person in manchester says what _ would be my advice. another person in manchester says what happens i would be my advice. another person in manchester says what happens to | in manchester says what happens to students that are taking subjects that include coursework? students that are taking sub'ects that include coursework? there's a whole variety _ that include coursework? there's a whole variety of _ that include coursework? there's a whole variety of mechanisms i that include coursework? there's a whole variety of mechanisms that. whole variety of mechanisms that have come into how those teachers have come into how those teachers have made those assessments, so sometimes it will be coursework, portfolio and sometimes it will be internal exams. what we do know, with survey students over the course of the whole of the 18 months is that 18% of them feel confident in their ss grades. —— 80% of them. i'm hearing from students today that

they are pleased with the grades. i spoke to teachers throughout the course of the very difficult period, particularly january and they have used their professionaljudgment and expertise. used their professional 'udgment and exertise. ., , ., expertise. there a question regarding — expertise. there a question regarding someone - expertise. there a question| regarding someone because expertise. there a question i regarding someone because my daughters school when they insisted on doing their own exams under exam conditions and they would not consider any other data such as mock exams for example, they had to complete the whole syllabus in all subjects, because i know that did not happen in many schools this year. she also says, i know that many other schools are looking at the different methods, using a range of data. irate the different methods, using a range of data. ~ ., ,, ., ., the different methods, using a range ofdata. ~ ., ,, ., ., of data. we do know that across schools, of data. we do know that across schools. they — of data. we do know that across schools, they will _ of data. we do know that across schools, they will be _ of data. we do know that across schools, they will be a - of data. we do know that across schools, they will be a variety i of data. we do know that across| schools, they will be a variety of different mechanisms, so it is not unusual to have those internally set exams. a lot of schools would have

done that and other schools would not have been able to do that. we know that the pandemic has affected schools and colleges across the four countries in many different ways. the teachers have had to say what is the best way to assess this individual, this class, this year group's ability? i have got every confidence and students do as well that those teachers' professional judgment, using all of those variety of tools, had come to the best outcome for them. we can see that when we look at the numbers now that have got their first choice in terms of university place. this have got their first choice in terms of university place.— of university place. this is an example _ of university place. this is an example again _ of university place. this is an example again of _ of university place. this is an example again of a _ of university place. this is an example again of a different| example again of a different approach taken by another school. in ashford, he says my son's school did not examine me —— did a examine may. how is this fair?

not examine me -- did a examine may. how is this fair?— how is this fair? yes, i mean auain, how is this fair? yes, i mean again. i— how is this fair? yes, i mean again. i go _ how is this fair? yes, i mean again. i go back _ how is this fair? yes, i mean again, i go back to, _ how is this fair? yes, i mean again, i go back to, they - how is this fair? yes, i mean again, i go back to, they will i how is this fair? yes, i mean i again, i go back to, they will have used different techniques. i wouldn't worry too much that they have used different techniques across different regions. we know that different regions were affected differently throughout the pandemic. with the question around inflation of results and pressure, teachers hold professionaljudgment very high in high regard. they hold a lot of personal integrity from that, so i wouldn't worry too much about that and neither would i worry about the whole university admissions being fair. again, ispeak whole university admissions being fair. again, i speak to university admission professionals across all four countries and they are absolutely working in the best interest of students to make sure it is fair and they are treated as individuals as they look to progress university. qm. individuals as they look to progress universi . .,. , individuals as they look to progress universi . , . , individuals as they look to progress universi . i. university. 0k, tracey willis says that my twins _ university. 0k, tracey willis says that my twins are _ university. 0k, tracey willis says that my twins are due _ university. 0k, tracey willis says that my twins are due to - university. 0k, tracey willis says that my twins are due to do i university. 0k, tracey willis says i that my twins are due to do a-levels that my twins are due to do a—levels next year, possibly the exams and will go back to possibly the usual

levels of a and a*. how will they be placed against students who have had these results in 2020 and may defer. there is a lot of questions here and i get the feeling that a lot of parents are feeling as if these results and last year's results, there is not as much faith or trust in them. ~' there is not as much faith or trust in them. ,, , ., in them. so, i think in terms of the individual question _ in them. so, i think in terms of the individual question about _ in them. so, i think in terms of the individual question about tracy's i individual question about tracy's twins and the cohort of 2022, they will not have sat an external exam, so certainly teachers, universities will be looking about cohort again as one of the cohorts that have really been impacted by the pandemic. what i would say in terms of future treatment of the qualification results that we have

seen this year, and that we so last year, when you come out of the other end of a degree or an apprenticeship, employers will look at it in the round. employers know how much society, their own workforce has been impacted by the pandemic, so they will know that students have been massively impacted and they will see it in that regard. they will be looking for other things. that regard. they will be looking for otherthings. both that regard. they will be looking for other things. both universities and employers look beyond the results and they look at other information that they have got to hand. i assure tracey that everybody is working in their best interest for when the twins come to do their exams in 2022. for when the twins come to do their exams in 2021— exams in 2022. there is a question about whether _ exams in 2022. there is a question about whether there _ exams in 2022. there is a question about whether there is _ exams in 2022. there is a question about whether there is enough i exams in 2022. there is a question i about whether there is enough places or not? certainly, i think there is that question about that there may well be less places in clearing this particular year. why is the government not creating more university places? it is good for

the uk if more and more younger generations are going to university and not dropping out. i generations are going to university and not dropping out.— and not dropping out. i agree with the question- _ and not dropping out. i agree with the question. i _ and not dropping out. i agree with the question. i think— and not dropping out. i agree with the question. i think universities i the question. i think universities are creating more and more places. we saw that last year and we will see that again this year. and the government has a role for medicine, which is capped and we saw them adjust that medicine cap which is really good news in terms of some of those most competitive, capped courses. we will see universities bending over backwards where there is demand for courses. the really selective courses and selective institutions bending over backwards to increase capacity where they can. i am encouraged by that. i would say that there are also other options as well as the traditional three—year undergraduate degree and that also needs expanding as we go forward and there are more 18—year—olds in the population. we have to think five years from now in regards to that.

we are going to scotland now and fraser is in galloway. bear with me here. there's a lot of figures in this particular question. with one in four or this particular question. with one infour or26.7% of this particular question. with one in four or 26.7% of adults in scotland having literacy issues, how can teachers justify the inflated a—level results for last year and the anticipated even higher pass rate this year? scottish results were slightly lower of course. as a comparative to england, where one in six or have literacy issues. they seem to follow this as the most recent results but i can find between 2012 to 2016, saw a drop in literacy rates especially in the most deprived areas. let us take the first point there and scotland and literacy issues. what can you explain to us about that? i think

it's actually _ explain to us about that? i think it's actually across _ explain to us about that? i think it's actually across the _ explain to us about that? i think it's actually across the uk. i explain to us about that? i think it's actually across the uk. what explain to us about that? i think i it's actually across the uk. what we need to look at is that we often talk about differences between disadvantaged and most advantaged applicants. you take that right back to early years, primary school into secondary school, we do see different levels of attainment between most advantaged and disadvantaged. we need a concerted effort to look right back into primary school for those. part of the question there was probably getting at literacy being something thatis getting at literacy being something that is needing more as you go into university and we do know that courses like education, there are literacy tests. i think it's something that universities will look at gcse results as well sometimes. i think there is an element of looking about anyway and then of course we have got students who don't go through an academic route into university and perhaps go

down a vocational or a technical route which is an absolutely valid, different route for students to go down. vesely that's where i would like to come to next, actually. we have just talk about t levels which were spoken about... irate have just talk about t levels which were spoken about. . .— have just talk about t levels which were spoken about... we also know about apprenticeships. _ were spoken about... we also know about apprenticeships. in _ were spoken about... we also know about apprenticeships. in terms i were spoken about... we also know about apprenticeships. in terms of. about apprenticeships. in terms of apprenticeships, how much uptake is there of apprenticeships? what are there of apprenticeships? what are the main questions that students are asking you? 50. the main questions that students are askin: ou? ,, ., , ., asking you? so, we know there is a massive demand, _ asking you? so, we know there is a massive demand, nearly _ asking you? so, we know there is a massive demand, nearly half i asking you? so, we know there is a massive demand, nearly half of - asking you? so, we know there is ai massive demand, nearly half of the students that come to ucas are interested in apprenticeships. i think the thing that they say to us when we survey them and do our focus groups is it is really much more difficult to navigate and to understand advice and where they can access the information. certainly, there is a job for you because to do over the coming years to really get quality, engaging, trusted

information and advice and help teachers advise us as well so that they can support their students in terms of apprenticeships. there they can support their students in terms of apprenticeships. there is a bit of a ruckus _ terms of apprenticeships. there is a bit of a ruckus isn't _ terms of apprenticeships. there is a bit of a ruckus isn't there _ terms of apprenticeships. there is a bit of a ruckus isn't there with - terms of apprenticeships. there is a bit of a ruckus isn't there with the l bit of a ruckus isn't there with the bakers close and apprenticeships? as the guidance for schools to tell their children about different... i believe and i am chief executive of ucas, but ucas has a role to help those advisers. i would say it's not about currently we are advising them at age 1516. we need to bring that right back into aged 12, 13, to say actually here is what a three—year traditional undergraduate looks like and here is what apprenticeships look like and encourage them to really understand.—

look like and encourage them to really understand. amanda, very cuickl , really understand. amanda, very quickly. our— really understand. amanda, very quickly, our apprenticeships - really understand. amanda, very| quickly, our apprenticeships more accepted? quickly, our apprenticeships more acce ted? , ~ quickly, our apprenticeships more acceted? , ~ , ., . accepted? yes, i think they are much more accepted _ accepted? yes, i think they are much more accepted than _ accepted? yes, i think they are much more accepted than they _ accepted? yes, i think they are much more accepted than they were - accepted? yes, i think they are much. more accepted than they were perhaps three or five years ago. i do think there is a potential issue in perception and making sure that they are held in esteem. i perception and making sure that they are held in esteem.— are held in esteem. i used the wrong name, i'm are held in esteem. i used the wrong name. i'm so — are held in esteem. i used the wrong name, i'm so sorry. _ are held in esteem. i used the wrong name, i'm so sorry. claire. _ are held in esteem. i used the wrong name, i'm so sorry. claire. i- are held in esteem. i used the wrong name, i'm so sorry. claire. i know. name, i'm so sorry. claire. i know that last year, some students were allowed to opt out of teacher assessment and sit those exams properly. that included my son. have any students this year done at? because of the record numbers that got their first choice of university, we heard that student sentiments are very positive at the moment is that it's not something that we are necessarily seeing coming through. there is an option bear a vein coming through. there is an option beara vein exam

coming through. there is an option bear a vein exam if students feel like they haven't had the grades that they really wanted. that is an avenue for them. if they have got that first choice of university, crack on with that next chapter of your life. it is an exciting time for you. your life. it is an exciting time for ou. . ~ your life. it is an exciting time for ou. ., ~ your life. it is an exciting time for ou. . ~' , . more now on the news that here in the uk, there's been a sharp increase in the proportion of top grades awarded at a—level after exams were cancelled for a second year because of the pandemic. our correspondent nina warhurst has been speaking to some of them in bolton. yes, good morning, rebecca. now, i don't know what your college looked like, what your classroom looked like when you were studying at college, but was it anything like this? mine wasn't, mine was just desks in front of a board, but here for the students doing btecs in things like hairdressing,

childcare, engineering, catering, obviously in here it is much more hands—on training and there has been a real growth in that. around 250,000 btecs were taken in the year 2019 and there they will have been an increase this year because there has been a greater interest in hands—on practical qualifications. more people now doing btecs than there are a—levels, let's have a word with the principle here this morning. good to see you, bill. thank you for having us. congratulations on all of the excellent results you have had at the college, but i can only imagine what an 18 months it has been for you. yes, an 18 months like no other, frankly. but due to the fact we have just got a fantastic set of staff here and wonderful students, they have all pulled together and have really driven forward to come up with what we have today, which is the end of the academic year. practically speaking, how has it work? how have you managed to take what are very hands—on in the classroom and make sure students still have that experience? frankly, the inventiveness and innovation of my staff is beyond measure, frankly. they have done everything you can possibly not even imagine. they have been taking model heads from the hairdressing salons

and sending them out to the students, they have been doing catering practical is in their own homes. everything they could possibly do has been done. clearly it has been a challenge but we have adapted wherever possible. the number crunchers are looking at the results and there is always the debate about whether the results have been inflated, particularly so this year because a lot of the grading has been done with a bit of guesswork, i think it is fed to say. what would your reaction to that be? not a lot of guesswork here. evidence—based. a lot of effort put in by the staff where possible we have done a whole range of different assessments. we have moderated across all of the different areas within the college and also reviewed externally as well by the relevant bodies. i'm very confident of the robustness of our outcomes this year. to those who say the inflation in grades isn't fair, what would you say? i would say stop looking at the inflation of the greats of the statistics and look

at what is most important today, which isjust how fantastic the students had done. yes, let's start celebrating. lets get to the students because we have been with them all morning waiting for their results. hannah, needed a qualification to go on to do midwifery. share with everyone how you did. i do midwifery. share with everyone how you did-— an absolutely buzzing with my results — i got d star, d star, d. so, i'm happy with that. and what does that mean because you were studying sports, win tu? we were in the gym with you earlier. yes, so what that means is i'm going to take this qualification and use it for pe teaching, personal training and some coaching in the future. how have you coped being outside of the gym in the pandemic and not

being able to get the hands—on experience in the same way? zoom. zoom has saved me a lot and online workouts and thanks to the swimming club that i'm with, they have been excellent. a lot of sacrifice and investment they have put into me and all of the swimmers. and you have been quite open about the impact on your mental health of being in isolation, when you are so used to getting out there, playing sport and being in a group environment. yes, it isjust mental. for me, swimming is an escape for me. it's an escape of issues and problems that i have and it's just a second home to me, so ijust feel absolutely delighted when i see a swimming pool or i am doing something sporting—wise. back in the pool with your results and possibly going on to pe teaching one day, which i think you will be excellent at. mohammed, you are hoping to go from college and on to university, which shows actually that btecs can go on a more academic qualification. yes, of course. results—wise, i got a triple - distinction, pretty good grade. triple distinction i think is more than pretty good, mohammed. excellent results. i can't wait to go onto uni

and perform in the samel way as i did here. congratulations to you. and you, hussain, you only started learning english five years ago. just tell us about the results today. i'm really happy with them. i can't wait to start to go to university. it's going to be along for years but i'm excited. it's going to be four years, a lot of experience, a lot of things to try. so, your plan now is to go to bolton university and to carry on studying business? i want to do my masters, hopefully. i'm planning to do it. it's going to be four years. a long journey, but i can't wait to finish it. i'm sure you will be brilliant. congratulations. you have worked incredibly hard and been very resilient over a very difficult period. ijust want i just want to introduce you to this student who has passed his catering. it could not have been easy to do catering during lockdown with lots of hospitality is closed. at catering during lockdown with lots of hospitality is closed.— of hospitality is closed. at the start of lockdown, _ of hospitality is closed. at the start of lockdown, i _ of hospitality is closed. at the start of lockdown, i was - of hospitality is closed. at the i start of lockdown, i was working of hospitality is closed. at the - start of lockdown, i was working for

the nhs in a hospital in manchester. i was feeding patients and stuff like that. ., ~' i was feeding patients and stuff like that. ., ~ ., i was feeding patients and stuff likethat. ., ~ ., ., , like that. so, work that really matters- _ like that. so, work that really matters. you _ like that. so, work that really matters. you could _ like that. so, work that really matters. you could carry - like that. so, work that really matters. you could carry on l like that. so, work that really - matters. you could carry on training incapacity capacities that were doing takeaway is stop yes. incapacity capacities that were doing takeaway is stop- incapacity capacities that were doing takeaway is stop yes, i never sto ed doing takeaway is stop yes, i never stopped working — doing takeaway is stop yes, i never stopped working through _ doing takeaway is stop yes, i never| stopped working through lockdown. doing takeaway is stop yes, i never i stopped working through lockdown. i have had five jobs through it. stopped working through lockdown. i have had fivejobs through it. maw! have had five 'obs through it. wow! and what is — have had five jobs through it. wow! and what is the _ have had five jobs through it. wow! and what is the plan _ have had five jobs through it. wow! and what is the plan now _ have had five jobs through it. wow! and what is the plan now that - have had five jobs through it. wow! and what is the plan now that you have passed the course? i’m and what is the plan now that you have passed the course? i'm going for michelin _ have passed the course? i'm going for michelin star _ have passed the course? i'm going for michelin star restaurant - have passed the course? i'm going for michelin star restaurant and - have passed the course? i'm going for michelin star restaurant and i i for michelin star restaurant and i might do a year abroad in france. these are the people of the future. doing all of the jobs that make society fundamental to what we do. congratulations to everybody who has got their qualifications today and if it hasn't turned out to the way you want to,... among those celebrating their results are twin brothers emmanuel and ebenezer, who have got in to oxford and cambridge. emmanuel is off to oxford to study english literature and his brother

will study russian and spanish. my colleague rebecca jones spoke to them earlier and started by asking them how they felt last night... i was quite nervous. i was trying to block it out in my mind, but the day before, it was quite hard to get to sleep. i think everybody across the country was really nervous. ebenezer, what about you? yes, i haven't really been thinking about it much but the day before, i started to think about it a bit more and it became a lot more real, so... this is a mean question and i don't mind which if you answer it but you are twins, you have both got your eyes set on the ultimate prize, did it ever occur to you, goodness, what's going to happen if one of us get the grades and the other one doesn't? to be honest, not really. i was very confident that we would both get the grades. we both have lots of evidence in past examinations and i know my twin and i know he's capable, so it didn't come my mind. ebenezer, were you as confident? yes, i was very confident.

it's been such an odd year though, hasn't it? it can't have been easy. ebenezer, how have you found it? yes, it's been really strange. we have had moments when we have had to learn online. there has been bubbles and isolating. there's been a lot of disruption. we've had a lot of support. we have had our mother at home and the school helping, so we have managed. in a moment — victoria derbyshire will be here for the bbc news at one but now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello there. most parts of the country have been enjoying better weather today. country have been enjoying better weathertoday. let country have been enjoying better weather today. let me show you what is happening on the satellite picture because a lot of the rain clouds that we had yesterday have moved away eastwards as low pressure moves away. looking out into the atlantic, we have got this area of cloud here which will bring some rain into the west tomorrow. we have

got some sunshine out there and a lot of places are remaining dry and it feels warmer because the wins all remaining light as well. could be 23 or 2a degrees. it is warmer across southern scotland, where it is a lot drier than it was yesterday. one or two showers further south across northern england. those will all move away this evening. overnight, we are looking about cloud coming in to the atlantic. it will be thickening and keeping temperatures up thickening and keeping temperatures up to around 12 or 13 degrees, similar to what we had last night. tomorrow, we will look at the clouds moving in through the west. the clouds moved in, we will get a spell of rain across northern ireland pushing its way through scotland's and parts of england and wales as well. we do actually get some sunshine eventually later on in the day across western parts of scotland but that rain moves across much of the country into the afternoon. sunny afternoon across northern

ireland that we have got more rain coming onto the pennines come into the welsh hills and into cornwall as well. we have got some warmer air in east anglia and the south—east — 2a or 25 degrees. we have not had that during the whole of august so far. that's where the front takes very little rain into england and wales. it might bring some wet and windy weather into the north—west leicester goal later —— north—west later on sunday. some sunshine further north but we will see the wins. .. further north but we will see the wins... 25 possibly even 26 if we get a bit more sunshine across east anglia, for example. moving things onto friday, yes, it is a little bit cooler across many areas. scotland, the wins will be stronger through most of the day. temperatures are normal for this time of the year —

ran 19 to 22 celsius.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. oh, my god! top grades for a levels in england, wales and northern ireland have reached a record high. education secretary gavin williamson says students deserve to be rewarded after more than a year of disruption. this cohort of students have had to deal with a level of disruption that no—one has ever seen before, not even during a world war, as a result of this pandemic. we'll bring you reaction from around the uk. also in the news this lunchtime... a lawsuit is filed against prince andrew by a us woman who alleges she was trafficked to him by deceased paedophilejeffrey epstein, and then sexually abused. the prime minister of greece says sorry for failures in tackling wildfires which continue to burn across parts of the country.