What YOU need to know when your child gets their A-level results: Experts including the head of UCAS share their advice from every eventuality – from falling short of required grades to deferring for a gap year
- Students will be able to check their A-level results on UCAS from 8am today
- Grades have been decided by teachers’ estimates after exams were cancelled
- Experts including UCAS Chief Executive Clare Marchant shared their advice
- Revealed what to do if your child failed to get their grades – or exceeded them
Students across England will receive their A-level results today after a tumultuous year that saw their education disrupted due to Covid-19.
Rather than formal exams, which were cancelled due to the pandemic, grades have been decided by teachers’ estimates based on previous pieces of work and mock exams over the last year.
While some students will be looking forward to starting at university this autumn after securing their required results, there will be disappointment for others who fail to hit the mark.
But no matter what grades your child receives, it is important to give them the best advice possible.
Students across England will receive their A-level results today after a tumultuous year that saw their education disrupted due to Covid-19. Here, experts share their advice. Stock image
FEMAIL has spoken to higher education and exam experts, including Clare Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, to arm concerned parents and guardians with everything they need to know.
Offering words of encouragement to students receiving their results, Ms Marchant said: ‘Great opportunities for next year will be available to you, whatever situation you are in now, and any of them could be the beginning of a great story.
‘You might be soon studying an undergraduate degree in your original chosen subject, looking for a new course in Clearing, or exploring apprenticeships to get you set for a stellar career.
‘Whether your grades are higher, lower, or different to what you were anticipating, there is a route for you and we’re here to help navigate through your choices through straightforward, personalised information and advice.’
Before your child checks their results…
Find a back up option
FEMAIL has spoken to higher education experts, including Clare Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, to arm parents and guardians with everything they need to know. Stock image
Dr Lisette Johnston, ex BBC World News Editor and Head of School at ScreenSpace, said it is worth your child spending some time considering and researching a ‘Plan B’ before receiving their results – just in case they aren’t quite what they are expecting.
‘Have a look for similar courses to their chosen one, they might find one with lower entry requirements,’ she said.
‘For example, if you’ve applied to do Film or Media Studies why not look at other courses that focus on film or media, such as Film and Screen Business, or for some courses check the requirements comparing a BA with a BSc – this works with courses such as Economics.’
If their heart is set on a particular university then consider getting a head start and registering through clearing to save time if he or she does need to go through the Clearing process.
Be prepared for phone calls
Make sure your child is ready to make Clearing calls today, advised Amy Smith, Associate Director of Admissions and Applicant Experience at Nottingham Trent University.
For parents or guardians, this involves taking a step back.
‘It is the student that universities want to speak to, and not their parents or advisers, so ensure they are ready to make the call themselves and have everything to hand that they might need – results, UCAS login, and a pen and paper to note down next steps and make sure they don’t miss any important information.’
If they haven’t achieved the grades they need…
Still check UCAS Track – you might have been accepted
Ms Smith said: ‘First thing to do when a student receives their results is to log on to UCAS Track.
‘Even if they have not done as well as they expected in their A levels or other qualifications, the university that they have applied to may have been able to accept them anyway, or made an alternative offer for a related course with lower entry requirements.
‘Students shouldn’t make any assumptions about the outcomes of their applications until they have logged on to UCAS to find out.’
Find a course through Clearing or Clearing Plus
Clearing
Clearing is how universities and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses. A student can apply for a course using Clearing if they are not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places.
There are around 30,000 courses to search in Clearing on UCAS.
A student can use Clearing if:
- they’re applying after 30 June
- they didn’t receive any offers (or none they wanted to accept)
- they didn’t meet the conditions of their offers
- they’ve declined their firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in Track
The most important thing is to reassure your child that there is no need to feel unsettled or anxious if they find themselves in Clearing.
Last year, a record 58,000 people secured their place in Clearing after applying earlier in the year, and a further 25,000 applied directly into Clearing.
Combined, that means that almost 15 per cent of everyone accepted last autumn took this route.
Clearing Plus
If your child finds themselves in Clearing this year, the UCAS team will personally match them to courses they may be interested in, using what they have shared in their application, and what universities and colleges are looking for in a student.
This information will be fed to the student when they log in to UCAS Track. They will be able to see a personalised list of courses available to you.
If they see a course they are interested in, they can express and interest using Track and the university will be in touch.
Last year, over 20,000 people found their course by using the Clearing Plus service.
Defer a year and take a leap
Jo Caine, MD and specialist HR recruiter for Cathedral Appointments, said: ‘Just because your child thought they were going to go to university in 2021 doesn’t mean they have to go to university in 2021.
‘If their results didn’t quite hit the mark this year, they may be able to strike a deal with the university of choice and defer the place for a year. This scenario is more common than you may expect and may be the best decision.’
With a year out, your child can take the time to do something completely different.
‘Perhaps travelling the world could be on the agenda or volunteering with a charity – maybe work experience in their chosen field to give them an early step up on the career ladder,’ Ms Caine continued. ‘The list is endless.’
If their grades are better than expected…
If your child has exceeded their predicted grades, they don’t necessarily need to change anything. They can just rest easy knowing they’re all set for September. Stock image
‘First of all, they should be very proud of themselves,’ said Elaine Bowker, principal at The City of Liverpool College.
If your child has exceeded their predicted grades, they don’t necessarily need to change anything. They can just rest easy knowing they’re all set for September.
There is also the chance to reconsider where and what they study through UCAS Adjustment.
Ms Marchant explained: ‘Adjustment is a straightforward process and each year several hundred students use it to secure their place on a different course.
‘Follow the instructions within Track, and a student can hold only their confirmed place, while searching for a new one if they’ve achieved all the grades their conditional firm choice asked for, and at least one higher.
‘If they don’t find anything new that’s suitable, that’s ok. They will still have their place at their original firm choice.’
If they’ve had second thoughts on their original choice…
‘Clearing is also available if you’ve changed your mind on your original choices,’ explained Ms Marchant.
If your child had been planning to go to university and isn’t sure about what they want to do now, it’s important to think about the reasons why they wanted to apply to higher education originally, because they will still be valid in the future.
‘This year is clearly different to previous years, but I encourage students to progress as they originally planned. Universities and colleges continue to be incredibly flexible in response to the pandemic and are sharing stories of how they’ve supported their current students over the past 18 months.’
Ms Smith added: ‘Contact the university that they are interested in, to see if there are any spaces available.
‘Usually this is done over the phone, and students can look on university websites now to find the clearing hotline numbers that they might want to use on results day.’
It might also be possible to defer for a year to give them more time to consider.
If they are not sure they want to go to university…
Alternate routes
Ms Caine said: ‘Nowadays, university isn’t the be all and end all of higher education. Holding A-Levels gives you the opportunity to explore numerous pathways into further learning and careers and, more often than not, for a lot less money.
‘Apprenticeships, vocational studies, or alternate exam-based qualifications (such as the ACCA qualification for budding Accountants) are all options available.
‘Not only are they much more accessible than university, many of these choices will allow students to ‘earn while you learn’, giving valuable experience and allowing them to have financial independence – a luxury not many students have.’
Interim roles
‘It may be that when your child opens their results, university simply isn’t on the cards anymore – and that’s okay,’ said Ms Caine. ‘Some of the brightest minds of past generations have been those without a degree.
‘But this complete u-turn may mean they’re a little unsure of where to go in terms of getting their foot in the door with a career. This is where interim or temporary roles are invaluable. Working for a specific sector for a short period of time will give key industry experience and well as transferrable skills, but without the worry of being tied down for a long time.
‘Through short bursts of employment, a student can work out where their passions lie and what career path is perfect for them while also garnering brilliant knowledge and skillsets for their CV.
‘And, more often than not, once they’ve found that perfect role – an interim job has the opportunity to become a permanent placement.’
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