The Big Day Dawns
That date which has loomed ahead, circled in red on the calendar for months, is finally here; A-level
Results Day! Whether your child is feeling understandably nervous or surprisingly relaxed about collecting those all important results, the day is a big event for the whole family. Once the excitement of getting the actual results is over, parents are often unsure of how much support they need to give their child to enable them to take the next steps towards their future. How much should you intervene to make sure that their place at university is secure?
At school or college, your child will be provided with the information on what they need to do once they have received their results. However, in the midst of all the excitement is it important that you as parents are equipped with this information to help your child gain a place on a university course that best suits them.
Here are our top tips for parents, whatever the outcome:
If your child…Got the grades they wanted
Don’t forget to congratulate them! Didn’t you tell them that all those hours spent revising would pay off? Your child’s confirmed offer will appear on the UCAS website, so for peace of mind it may be worth them logging on to check that their place is safe. The chosen university will send information about enrolment over the next few days.
If your child…Did better than expected
A big well done! If your child didn’t expect to do so well, maybe they won’t have thought about going to university at all. Well, it’s not too late to get a place on a university course this autumn. Your child will need to consider the options carefully and find a course that suits their needs and interests. Alternatively, they may be suitable for UCAS Adjustment, which is a process that provides applicants who have exceeded the conditions of their firm choice the opportunity to reconsider where and what to study.
If your child…Is just a few points short
If your child just missed out on their expected grades by only a few points, they may still be able to get a place on their chosen university course. It is important for them to call the institution and find out if they can help. If your child has already applied to the University of South Wales, they should call 08456 434 030 from 8am, or you are welcome to visit us for face-to-face advice. Just give us a call to book an appointment and you can come and see our excellent facilities for yourself. If they have not previously applied to Glamorgan, they should call 08455 190 111.
If your child…Didn’t make the grade
Not gaining the required points to get that university place can often seem like the end of the world, but it is important that you encourage your child not to panic. Even if their points are a lot less than they thought, there’s still hope and an opportunity to go to university through Clearing.
Survival Tips for Parents on Results Day
Results Day is a stressful time for your son or daughter, but it is also a time when you as a parent can offer help, guidance and support. However, to make sure you offer the right kind of help and support, we have compiled some top tips for parents to ensure that you survive results day unscathed…
- Be prepared − If they don’t get the grades they wanted, they may need you to help them make some decisions on the next steps to take. Read our guide to Clearing to make sure you know one of the options. Alternatively, if they have passed, you may want some champagne or their favourite food on hand to help them celebrate.
- Be supportive − No matter what the results. Whether they pass or fail, they will need you to help them through their next steps. So give them some support and let them know you are there for them for whatever they need.
- Give them space − It’s their day and they will cope with their nerves and their anxieties in their own way, so just be there for them however they are feeling. They may even want to go and get their results on their own − just let them take the day at their own pace and how they feel comfortable. It will be worth it in the end.
- Party time − Once they have got their results, in all likelihood they may want to go off with their friends for the rest of the day. It’s been a stressful day for them and they want to go out and enjoy themselves – leave them to it.