It’s the worry of every Bedford Borough student, they open that exam results envelope and the grades they were hoping for haven’t appeared. You’ll no doubt feel devastated, especially if others around you are smiling and cheering as they’ve got what they need.
You worked so hard and you tried your best, but now it feels like things have fallen apart. But, you know what? They haven’t. Everything will be ok and you have many options available to turn this into something positive.
First of all, let’s look at who else you might know who didn’t get any A-levels at all, let alone go on to university.
The list is long, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Mark Twain, Richard Branson, Katy Perry, John Travolta, Harry Styles, Rober Downey Jr, and two of the co-founders of this newspaper, the Bedford Independent learnt vocationally instead of University and they all seem to be doing ok.
This might not seem like a big deal, but take it from this writer, what you’re feeling now will get better and there is always a plan B. So, what options do you have?
UCAS and clearing
The first port of call for many in this situation is to contact UCAS. The best thing instead is to head to their website for advice on the best course of action.
This includes talking to your school or college and also the Universities you have applied for. They also advise on Clearing and what to do if you want to appeal your grade.
Full information on what to do if you get unexpected grades can be found on the UCAS website.
If you’re also not sure what you want to do, that’s ok too. Speak to family and friends, or a careers advisor. The National Careers Service Exam Results helpline offers judgment-free advice, for free, on the phone or by webchat.
Apprenticeships
Vocational learning is also a fantastic option. Jo Bishenden, Managing Director, Apprenticeships of tech training company QA, said: “We understand that not everyone will receive the results they were hoping for.
“Results day is a significant milestone, but it’s important to understand that your future isn’t defined by a single set of results.
“Just because things don’t always go to plan, it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve amazing things; what matters is how you respond to unexpected challenges.
“This might be the right time to explore different directions for your future. Whether you met your university offers or not, it’s worth considering the benefits of apprenticeships.
“Apprenticeships offer a practical pathway into some of the most in-demand roles combining hands-on experience with earning while you learn.
“They provide the opportunity to develop industry-relevant skills and gain qualifications. Even if you didn’t get the results you were hoping for, an apprenticeship can be the perfect way to start building a successful and fulfilling future.”
Locally, Bedford Borough Council’s Jobs Hub offers support for students, providing advice about education and training options, help with skills, and job search assistance, and can be contacted at 01234 223510 or via jobshub@bedford.gov.uk.
Internships
Options like internships and gap years are a great way to give yourself time to think about what you want to do next in life.
While education throughout your life is important, people lean in through many different ways, so not getting your A-levels or going to University is ok too.
Gov.UK has a website dedicated to finding an internship for a fixed period of time anywhere between a week and 12 months.
Internships are an excellent way to build your professional skills, apply your learning, build a better understanding of your chosen profession and even find a job.
Many companies use internship programmes to assess a candidate’s capabilities, before sometimes fast-tracking them into a full-time position.
Internships can also be accredited or formally acknowledged by professional training organisations too, this means your experience as an intern could count towards a recognised industry qualification should you go down that route later on.
Gap year
We’ve all heard stories about people taking gap years and there’s a good reason for that. They’re a great way to get out into the world, experience different cultures and meet new people.
You might find that experiencing things overseas, living with the locals and working to pay for your next flight or train ticket gives you a completely different view of what you’d like to do next.
It might be that you change your mind completely or it reaffirms what you already knew. Either way, you’ll come back home with incredible stories to tell and memories that will last a lifetime.
Both Gov.UK and UCAS have advice on making the most of a gap year.
If after weighing all this up you’re still not sure what you want to do, that’s ok too.
Speak to family and friends, or a careers advisor. The National Careers Service Exam Results helpline offers judgment-free advice, for free, on the phone or by webchat.
But, remember, you will be ok.
