On 13 August 2026, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Chris Bryant, congratulated students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-Level and vocational results that day. In a statement issued by the Northern Ireland Office, he said the rise in top A-Level grades reflected students' hard work as well as the efforts of teachers and families.

Bryant pointed to several routes after results, including traditional university degrees, Higher-Level Apprenticeships and entering the workforce directly. He said he wanted every young person in every postcode to have a chance to get on, citing UK government investment in jobs and opportunities in Northern Ireland.

No figures for the grade increase were given in the statement. The release was published on 13 August 2026, three months before this summary.