Here in Northern Ireland we use a slightly different schooling system to the mainland, which has a tendency to produce better and worse results- by which I mean we get a lot more A's and A stars, and a lot more D's and E's- it tends to be less balanced.
The schooling system is not easier or harder nowadays, it's just different-and yes it does mean that maybe there are more A's going around, but that doesn't make it any easier to get into the top universities- in fact if anything it's harder to get in, as you have to be truely exceptional.
Also, you have to pay ridiculous amounts to go- I just got a lovely 3 grand loan- which has all gone to pay tuition fees.