Student's advised not to panic by Manchester Principle
Student's getting their A Level results are advised not to panic if they may not have got the grades they wanted.
Students across the region finding out their A level results today are being advised no matter what the outcome – not to panic.
Liz Elam, principal of Abbey College Manchester says there are more options than ever before that can help students in their journey from getting their results to what they are going to do the following September.
She had this advice for students who may not have received the grades that they wanted and have been rejected from their firm and insurance choice of university: “Don’t panic. Start looking at what’s in clearing and see if there is anything in there that would interest you. Then, once you get the clearing code, you can start pursuing clearing options.”
Elam says that it is important not to rush into the clearing process which may end in you choosing a course you don’t enjoy or a city you’ve never visited.
Her advice is: “Talk to your teachers, talk to your head of sixth form because they are the people who understand and know the system.” She also emphasises how important it is to have a supportive network around you regardless of your grades.
Exam results can also be stressful for the parents many of whom have to see their child either extremely happy or very upset with the outcome today. Elam explains that it is key that parents, “Support your son or daughter and encourage them if they haven’t got the required grades and then work with the professionals to help.”
For students who got higher grades than expected, there is a process called adjustment which allows you to see if there are any universities available that you wanted to go to but didn’t believe that you could achieve the grades.
However, university isn’t the only route for students to go through once you have completed your A-Levels. Many may choose to instead go into the world of work straight away or apply for an apprenticeship. There is also the choice of taking a year off and allowing time to make decisions about the future and, for those who didn’t get the grades they needed for a specific course, there is always the option to retake exams the following summer to help raise their grades.
Liz Elam noted: “If you’ve completed your A-Levels, well done! You should be very proud of yourself.”