Worcestershire parents "excited yet cautious" for students heading to university

College students received their A-Level results yesterday

Author: Isabel KimbreyPublished 11th Aug 2021

Worcestershire parents are "excited yet cautious" for their children heading to university after receiving their A-Level results.

The number of A-levels graded A or higher has risen to an all-time high after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row due to coronavirus.

There's also a record number of people applying to university this year as lockdown restrictions come to an end.

But there are still concerns over the safety of university campuses and the spread of coronavirus, what the university experience will be like and whether online learning might return.

We spoke to parents who were with their children picking up their A-Level results at Worcester Sixth Form College yesterday (10 August)

One parents said: "my daughter is quite confident about going to university now that the vaccine being rolled out and we're really pleased she'll have had her second jab before she leaves.

"I really do think that the full experience needs to be there so she can enjoy what we did when we were at university and I think it's a case of universities needing to make sure that's in place."

Another parent added: "I think I'm just curious as to what form it's going to take now with Covid and post-Covid and how his lessons will be and whether he'll get a true university experience."

Another parent said: "I'm slightly worried still about Covid although they will be vaccinated by the time they go but I think it will alter their overall experience.

Yesterday the education secretary Gavin Williamson said universities that don't return to face-to-face teaching shouldn't be charging full fees.

It comes as there are concerns about remote classes continuing this coming academic year.

One student's dad said: "I think the bank of mum and dad will definitely be wanting less fess to be applied if it isn't a full programme."

One mum said: "There should be some sort of discount in some way. I meant he biggest worry will be how effective the online learning will be.

Another parent added: "I can see the argument for not paying if you're not getting that level of face-to-face teaching because people will be upset.

"But I can also see the argument from the university's perspective that they also need to keep running and pay staff to still deliver the course."

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