Comments To A-Level And T-level Results Day

Along with many businesses and organisations the p.ublished group of online newspapers join in congratulating A level students.

Here are a couple of comments:

Robert West, Head of Education and Skills Policy at CBI, said:
“Congratulations to all those receiving their A-level and T-level results today. Due to Covid-19, recent years have been difficult for students. They have overcome unprecedented challenges and should be proud of their achievements. We would also like to acknowledge the hard work of teachers, who have provided steady support in these tough times.”

On increased pressures for university places, Robert said:
“A-level students hoping to continue their studies at university this September could find themselves competing with more students than usual. This is due to the combination of a record number of applicants to university, and the increased number of deferrals in 2021 resulting in fierce competition for places.

“It is crucial that the university admissions service, UCAS, work with higher education institutions to get people to the right destination.

“Some students may have to be more flexible than they initially planned, but there are plenty of exciting options both via universities and through opportunities provided by apprenticeships.”

On regional differences in A-level results, Robert said:
“Students have had a particularly challenging couple of years due to the impact of Covid-19. Every school has experienced the pandemic differently.

“Further and Higher Education institutions, as well as employers, must recognise that students from certain areas may have faced bigger barriers than others, and take this into account when assessing results.”

On most popular subject areas at A-level, Robert said:
“It is good to see STEM subjects within the most popular at A-level. High quality science education is crucial to driving forward the Government’s plans to level up the UK economy.

“The increase in young females taking up subjects such as biology is a step in the right direction. But more needs to be done to foster diversity across science, technology, engineering, and particularly in maths where there was a fall in take-up by female students.

“The decrease in entries in all A-level English subject areas is also important to address. We need young people studying a broad and balanced range of subjects, as students of the arts, humanities and the social sciences remain an important part of the future workforce.”

On T-level results, Robert said:
“Today marks the publication of the first set of T-level results. While surveys have shown that T-level students have felt particularly positive about their experience, there is much work to be done to raise awareness of T-levels, especially amongst employers.

“Raising understanding of T-levels amongst young people and their parents is crucial. Given concerns about the availability of work placements required to complete T-levels, awareness amongst companies who may offer placements for T-levels must also be improved.”

Dr Nick Smith

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of The Oxford Open Learning Trust, said:
“This year’s A-level students deserve tremendous credit for persevering and achieving so much. It’s brilliant to see that many have secured the results they wanted, and they should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

“There will inevitably be students who don’t quite receive the grades that they had hoped for and for these individuals they will naturally feel disappointed. But they
shouldn’t worry, as there are a number of options available to those who didn’t get the A-levels they were expecting or needing.

“To start with, check out the UCAS clearing system as many institutions will still have places available. The website will show whether your desired course is available
somewhere else, and it’s also worth giving them a call.

“If you feel like the grade you’ve been given is lower than you expected, you can appeal by contacting your school, who will then inform the examining board. The board
will examine the evidence provided by the school and decide whether any changes need to be made.

“You also have the option of exploring other learning avenues, such as work experience or apprenticeships. Taking a gap year is also a possibility, allowing you to travel or volunteer before going into further education.

“Alternatively, you could take a break from traditional education but carry on learning by resitting your A-levels or studying for new ones while working. Opting for
distance learning is the most flexible approach you can take as everything you need is available online, meaning that you can learn wherever and whenever is convenient for you.”

To find out more about distance learning, visit:
https://www.ool.co.uk/

Navina Evans, Chief Executive, Health Education England said:
“No matter what your results are today, I want to congratulate everyone on completing their studies. The last two years have been particularly hard on students, which is why you should all be immensely proud of yourselves.

“Try not to panic if you did not get the results you were expecting - with over 1.3 million employees working in the NHS, every individual comes from a different background with a range of valuable skills and experiences.”

“I am incredibly honoured to be part of a multi-professional organisation, no matter what your interests or aspirations are, we’ve got just the role for you.”

Health Education England encourages all students to visit the NHS Careers website, where they can access NHS application and interview tips, identify their transferable skills and find the NHS career that best suits them through the careers quiz.