Thousands of students from across the region are anxiously heading back to school or college today – or at least checking their e-mail – to see if they have got the A-levels they need for their next stage of life.
Early indications are that results have been good this year, which is just as well for students who are keen to get to university in the last year before student maintenance grants are discontinued.
At Suffolk One, the county’s only stand-alone sixth form college, students have received their best-ever A-level results.
Principal Alan Whittaker said, “Early indications are that this year’s results will be our best ever yet.
“We have had outstanding student performance across all programmes including A-levels, AS levels and Vocational qualifications.
“This news following our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Inspection in May and marks another positive step forward as we approach our fifth anniversary.”
There was a similar story at Northgate High in Ipswich where many students should be getting good news today.
Headteacher David Hutton said, “I am delighted to once again report excellent outcomes for students taught at Northgate Sixth Form
“A* and A account for nearly a third of all grades, average points per student are at a record high and the vast majority have achieved the grades needed for future aspirations. Congratulations to all Northgate students and good luck for the future.”
And at Ipswich school head Nicholas Weaver said: “These are the best ever A level results in my time as Headmaster at Ipswich School and I would like to congratulate our students on their results – they recognise the effort put in by these young people over the last two years, and the parents and staff who have supported them.”
Many students will already know whether or not they have got the grades they need for their preferred university course before they arrive at their school or college for the results – most universities now send e-mails confirming a place during the early hours of the morning.
However for some students, today’s results will mark the start of a difficult period of trying to get a university place through the clearing process.
Universities across the country are now geared up to offer places to students who may have missed out on their first choice – at UCS a team is on standby to help out where necessary.
The supplement in today’s paper should help with advice on how to deal with the trials of clearing.
Bernadette Mooney from UCS said many students were particularly keen to get on courses this year because it is the last time that maintenance grants will be available from the government – in future years all the costs of degrees will have to be met by loans or by students part-time earnings.
She said that at UCS staff were ready to talk to potential students about what options were available to them.
And they were not just ready for students who had missed out on the grades they had needed for their first choice – there were also options available to students who had done better than they had expected in their A-levels and wanted to find a course as a result.
For those not wanting to go to university, staff at the mygo centre for 16 to 24-year-olds in Ipswich town centre can help – with information about apprenticeships, college courses, and other work opportunities in the area.
If you didn’t get the results you were expecting, see our guide to the UCAS Clearing system here
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