A-level results day: All you need to know about clearing
For many, it is the most nerve-wracking few seconds they will ever experience. As thousands of teenagers pick up their A-level results today, their immediate future will be determined by the opening of an envelope.
To some, the emotion will be one of relief, or even unbridled joy, as their carefully laid plans fall into place, and the next three years of their lives are neatly mapped out for them.
But for those whose grades have failed to live up to expectations, it can be a very different story. The nervous anticipation gives way to disappointment and uncertainty, and then the question: What do I do next?
Exam Results Helpline: 0800 100 8000
Ucas: 0371 468 0468
Wolverhampton University: (01902) 323 505
Harper Adams University: (01952) 815000
Telford College of Arts and Technology: (01952) 642237
University Centre Shrewsbury: (01244) 567470
Shrewsbury College: (01743) 342340
Glyndwr University: (01978) 293439[/breakout]
"First and foremost, don't panic," says Chris Scott, principal of Telford College of Arts and Technology.
"You don't need A-levels to go on to university," he says, pointing out there are many different routes by which people can achieve their chosen careers.
"The choice of education options has never been greater here in Shropshire," he says.
"For example, Telford College has joined forces with the University of Wolverhampton to offer a range of higher education courses at University Centre Telford, at Southwater."
He says there are also plenty of further education choices for those who have failed to get the grades they were hoping for, or who are worried about the cost of university fees.
"We run a series of HNC and HND courses in a wide range of careers, from business and computing to media and sport, which can usually lead to a full honours degree with a one year top-up at university," he says.
One student who has taken a slightly different path is 20-year-old Matt Jones, from Dawley, Telford.
Matt left school in 2011, having sat four GCSEs, and failing to get O-level grades.
"Because I'm autistic I went to a special school, and it was only at the last minute they decided we should enter them," he says.
"They only entered us for the intermediate papers, which meant the best I could possibly get would be a C."
Four years on, he has completed his BTEC Level Three course in software engineering, achieving the equivalent of two A-levels with A* grades. He has also re-sat GCSE English, this time getting an A-grade, and will pick up the results of his GCSE maths re-sit next week. He now plans to take a gap year before going to university.
For young people who have failed to get the grades they were hoping for his advice is simple: get advice.
"Make sure you talk to people, if you're stuck there's nothing wrong with asking for assistance," he says. "There are all sorts of possibilities."
As well as the new University Centre Telford, Wolverhampton University also has a campus at Priorslee.
Dean of students Jon Elsmore says there are essentially three things that can happen on results day. The first, is straightforward, you get the results you had hoped and then contact the UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service) Track to get confirmation of your offer. But he says it is still worth doing this even if you have narrowly missed out on the grades you wanted.
"This is important because a lot of universities, such as ours, will take account of near misses and still offer someone their first choice if they just miss out on their grades," says Mr Elsmore.
"So just because you might not get the grades you wanted, it doesn't mean that you will miss out on your place. Secondly, there are cases where a student has done better than they thought they have done and may want to look at their options again because you have blown away all expectations.
"Thirdly, if you have not got the grades and things have gone disastrously wrong, the key bit of advice is don't panic.
"Clearing is perfectly normal and there were 60,000 students who went through clearing last year. It is not the end of the world."
Mr Elsmore said the most important thing is to select the course you want to do.
"You don't want to sign up to any course that is available at your nearest university," he says.
"Students who perform best are the ones who enjoy their subject."
He says it is important to contact the universities, and also to pay them a visit before accepting a place.
"You want to know you are going to be happy because once you make the decision to go somewhere it is difficult to go back on. It is, in that sense, the £30,000 question."
But he says it will be especially important to act quickly this year, as the Government's decision to end maintenance grants for some students will result in them cancelling their gap years.
To help with the process, Telford College's admissions tutors are laying on a series of special advice clinics to help students come to their decisions.
The sessions will take place at its Wellington campus on August 20, 21 and 26, between 10am and 4pm. University Centre Telford will also be open until 5pm today, with experts from both the Telford College and Wolverhampton University on hand for advice.
University Centre Telford co-ordinator Kathryn Jones added: "We realise that it can be a stressful time for students as they pick up their exam results. We want to emphasise that there are plenty of options for people, whether or not they have already applied to university."
And finally, a few words from Jonathan Forster, principal of Moreton Hall School, in Oswestry, who says that despite those who may say otherwise, exam results do matter.
"They confirm the hard work you have put in and universities and employers need some sort of measure of what you might be capable of."
However, he adds that whatever the outcome, the results are a measure of past performance, and are not necessarily a gauge of future prospects.
"When you look back on this day in five years' time, you will hardly remember exactly what you got an A for or why it mattered so much that you slipped a grade in a subject or two," he says.
"What you will remember is what you gained from school, and what you contributed; the subjects you were genuinely interested in, the friends you made, the person you became, the values it taught you. That is all that will really matter."
