On a semi-related note, I recently graduated from a Computer Science degree this year.
When looking for jobs at the end of it, it seemed to me like more and more companies no longer care about your academic grades and are more interested in your experience, which aligns with what mbrooks said.
For example, I managed to get on the graduate scheme at a huge international IT company (who shall remain nameless for various reasons, but trust me you've heard of them). In the past they wanted something like at least AAB at a-level before they even looked at your application form, but now they dont even care what grades - what they are looking at is your previous experience and what you are like as a person.
I got awful a-level grades, but I was fortunate enough to do a year's industrial placement working at a major international telecoms company (again - you'll have heard of them) where I learnt a lot, and crucially I had a lot to talk about in interviews and on application forms!
Basically what I am trying to say is, if you get the chance to do work experience - particularly a year in industry - go for it! All the grad jobs seem to be explicitly looking for it, and it really gives you good, solid examples to talk about in job interviews when they ask you the awkward questions! It really makes you stand out from the crowd, which is crucial in teh grad job market today where there are several thousand grads all going for the same job!
