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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

A level results day 2026

718 replies

SilverBlue4 · 12/08/2026 13:01

Thread ready for results day tomorrow!

OP posts:
shinyredtrousers · 14/08/2026 13:18

My son didn't get what he needed for his apprenticeship place, so we've asked for a remark (he was 2 marks off) but assuming the offer will be withdrawn. He only needed DD and got DEE. I just feel so down and ill. I want to ask him wtf he thought he was doing, why he couldn't be trusted to work without me breathing down his neck, wtf is he doing getting E's when a third of grades were A or above. But I know it's pointless.

He's back on gov.uk applying for more apprenticeships. I am just so down. Both OH and I are graduates but couldn't get either of our kids interested in uni and son's grades are embarrassing. Felt sick all night and couldn't sleep. So worried about the next few months. It feels like a total failure to launch.

Lampzade · 14/08/2026 13:04

Roundaboot · 14/08/2026 07:54

I've actually woken up feeling a bit sad and disappointed about DS's results. I know it doesn't matter at the end of the day and the key thing is that he got his first choice but it just makes me sad as I feel the hard work he put in isn't reflected in his results. I'm also still really confused about how it all went wrong...he was getting As and Bs in all English mocks and practice essays all through years 12 and 13 and always predicted minimum a strong B. So to come out with a D especially when he thought he'd done well in the exams is a shocker.
I'm still really proud of him and his efforts, and excited that he got what he wanted but part of me is still a bit disappointed. I'll keep it to myself as I don't want him to know that but sharing on here has helped!

I hope everyone who is still waiting to hear about places gets what they need and that there's not too much stress along the way!

He will get over it
Dd1 was disappointed with one of her results at A level. She was inconsolable at the time
Last year she graduated with a First Class in a stem subject

CharBart · 14/08/2026 13:02

Roundaboot · 14/08/2026 07:54

I've actually woken up feeling a bit sad and disappointed about DS's results. I know it doesn't matter at the end of the day and the key thing is that he got his first choice but it just makes me sad as I feel the hard work he put in isn't reflected in his results. I'm also still really confused about how it all went wrong...he was getting As and Bs in all English mocks and practice essays all through years 12 and 13 and always predicted minimum a strong B. So to come out with a D especially when he thought he'd done well in the exams is a shocker.
I'm still really proud of him and his efforts, and excited that he got what he wanted but part of me is still a bit disappointed. I'll keep it to myself as I don't want him to know that but sharing on here has helped!

I hope everyone who is still waiting to hear about places gets what they need and that there's not too much stress along the way!

DS had exactly the same experience with English. Other grades were fine and accepted in first choice uni, so all good but still not sure how he went so wrong!

DidYeAye16 · 14/08/2026 12:56

lifeinthemidlands · 14/08/2026 12:53

Liverpool was my DD's firm and we will be paying about £7,500 for the year (32 weeks I think). It is actually with a private provider - the decent uni ones filled up very quickly and she didn't like the others much. There wasn't a huge difference in private and uni in this case, but in some cases the private (or indeed the upmarket uni offerings) are eyewatering and this may be all that is left for clearance students.

My eldest got in to Glasgow Caledonian through clearing three years ago (she's in her last week of her final placement now). The only flat we could get was £12500 for the year 🙈

lifeinthemidlands · 14/08/2026 12:53

SwanWings · 14/08/2026 12:19

How much would the annual accommodation cost be in say Liverpool ?

Liverpool was my DD's firm and we will be paying about £7,500 for the year (32 weeks I think). It is actually with a private provider - the decent uni ones filled up very quickly and she didn't like the others much. There wasn't a huge difference in private and uni in this case, but in some cases the private (or indeed the upmarket uni offerings) are eyewatering and this may be all that is left for clearance students.

HPFA · 14/08/2026 12:49

rhabarbarmarmelade · 14/08/2026 12:33

Still feeling sick today as DC is so unhappy with his B instead of projected Astar. Waiting on remark as only then can he go to much preferred uni. How to break out of malaise?

This is tricky because looking at forums like Reddit it feels like the focus on getting into one of the absolute "top" unis has become a bit of an obsession with some students.

There are people utterly devastated because they've not made their offer for LSE or somewhere but have got an offer from Leeds, Brum, Cardiff, Southampton etc. And rather than saying "I'm peeded off but at least I'm still going to a very good uni" they seem to regard places like these as a humiliation.

So I guess even though you'll be longing to tell your DS that a B is not something to be ashamed of at all and he'll still be going somewhere great maybe he's in a milieu where this really is seen as a failure.

rhabarbarmarmelade · 14/08/2026 12:33

Still feeling sick today as DC is so unhappy with his B instead of projected Astar. Waiting on remark as only then can he go to much preferred uni. How to break out of malaise?

OneDivineHammer · 14/08/2026 12:25

Philandbill · 14/08/2026 09:24

Absolutely agree. And, though it is a big generalisation, I think the view is that private schools tend to over predict grades and state schools can under predict.
Both my DDs opted out of predicted grades/ clearing by planning a local foundation year. Even if that hadn't been an option I'd have encouraged a gap year. DD2 will be applying this year with known grades so should get quick answers. DD1 knew in the January that she'd have a place at her preferred university and the summer felt much calmer. There was a lot of pressure from school to apply and defer but I could not see the point of that.
Hard to see how to improve the system though....

I found this a really interesting statement, and am trying to source the evidence. It may be my research skills, but there doesn't look to be much checking into the disparity between predicted grades and achieved grades out there in state vs independent schools.
But I am not a researcher!

From a Sutton Trust report from 2020: PQA: Reforming University Admissions - The Sutton Trust " those from working class backgrounds were, in general, more likely to be overpredicted: 34% compared to 29% of those from middle-class backgrounds. While previous data has shown this pattern to differ between disadvantaged pupils at the low and high ends of the attainment spectrum, the sample size available in this survey was not sufficient for such analysis."

But of course working class/middle class is hardly an exact match for state/independent!

It does also say that "Students from state schools were more likely to be underpredicted than those from private schools (32% vs 26% of private school students)", which confirms half of @Philandbill 's statement, but now I'm still left trying to find out which type of school is more likely to overpredict! As the Sutton Trust says that about 75% of students are overpredicted, and only 9% underpredicted, the overpredicting seems more of a concern (not least to the poor pupils who miss their offers)

UCAS is apparently going to pilot a new scheme to help teachers hone their predicting skills, and show schools how their own predictions compare with achieved grades (though I'm sure most schools must monitor this themselves anyway, surely?): UCAS pilots new reports to help teachers strengthen grade predictions and support student choice | UCAS It says that "Part of this research highlights how predicted grades can differ by student context. For example, disadvantaged applicants (defined using the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index score) achieve further below UCAS predicted grades than advantaged applicants"...

but again, I'm not finding reference to school type, only to socio-economic groupings, which is less than helpful.

Meanwhile, other research from Bristol/Cambridge using UCAS and other data (but only from the National Schools Database of state schools, unfortunately) Tracing the origins of teacher gender bias - ScienceDirect is muddying the waters by bringing in female/male disparities! Gender gap in predicted grades raises questions over their use in university admissions | University of Cambridge, finding that "Depending on the subject, girls were between 3% and 11% likelier than boys to have their grades overpredicted, and between 15% and 41% less likely to have them underpredicted."

UCAS pilots new reports to help teachers strengthen grade predictions and support student choice | UCAS

https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/ucas-pilots-new-reports-to-help-teachers-strengthen-grade-predictions-and-support-student-choice

VickyEadie · 14/08/2026 12:25

Stowickthevast · 14/08/2026 11:11

I feel like this used to be the system. I don't remember having to choose a firm and insurance (early 90s).

I applied in 1975 (!) for 1976 entry and we had to choose a firm and an insurance out of the 5 possible choices back then.

In those days, only around 7% of young people went to university and so it was very common to be called for interview - I was called to 3 interviews and got offers from all 5 choices. There were no 'open days' back then and it was quite common for people who hadn't even been called for interview to see their university for the first time on the day they went up!

SwanWings · 14/08/2026 12:19

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 14/08/2026 11:37

I would much prefer a shift to applying grades in hand.
I agree with smoke and mirrors. It’s a massive barrier to social mobility too. Those with parents who know how the system works invariably fare better.
Finance is a massive factor. There’s some great options in clearing but if no guaranteed uni accommodation you are facing expensive private halls. Only those with parental funding can contemplate that. My DD’s friend got York in clearing - great result for her with her C/D grades but only accommodation was £10,000 a year.
It’s all so cynical. I can remember being on a parents facebook group last year and Liverpool Uni dropped its clearing law grade to ABB. The next day Liverpool JM suddenly offered unconditional to some students prior to results. Mum posting how marvellous they really want our dc. The mums who know the system say hang fire for her results she might be able to trade up to RG Liverpool and in such a competitive area like law well worth considering.

How much would the annual accommodation cost be in say Liverpool ?

gingercat02 · 14/08/2026 12:19

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 14/08/2026 11:14

no I did mine in the early 90's too and don't remember choosing now you mention it. I also had 2 forms. One of uni and one for poly ( which did not only have technical courses. My friend did a degree in English at a poly.

Me too in the late 80s
UCCA forms for unis and PCAS for Polys. The 5 choices were ordered in preference and you got offers or not but I don't remember only having 2 options left come August.

SwanWings · 14/08/2026 12:06

NellyNoMates · 14/08/2026 10:03

I agree that the system is bonkers and actually quite unfair as it’s more dependent on getting offers than on actual achievement. I’ve also a DS in Dublin so have walked through the CAO system with him and much prefer it.

However, I would caution against assuming that applying with grades in hand gets a better/easier result within the current system.

When we did open days with both DS and DD, all the unis said very openly that they couldn’t give preferential treatment to people applying with grades in hand compared to predicted grades and had to treat them all equally.

Anecdotally, My niece applied for nursing in U6th with predicted grades of 4A. She got her interviews and got 5 offers. She took a year out (which included some relevant experience) and none of the courses would allow her to defer so had to re-apply with grades in hand. She re-applied with 4A confirmed and only got 2 offers the second time around, and neither her previous firm or insurance made an offer. She ended up taking another year out, and reapplied for a 3rd time. This time she got 3 offers and thankfully it included the one she really wanted. But all that to say, that it’s not a given that if you have grades in hand, even if they exceed the entry requirements, you will get an offer.

That’s really interesting
I didn’t know that

spiderlight · 14/08/2026 11:54

I started in 1990 and I remember the UCCA and PCAS forms but not whether I had to have a firm and insurance. I avoided the worst of the results day angst because my auntie worked in Admissions at the uni I wanted to go to, and I got a sneaky phone call at about 9pm the night before in which she just whispered 'You can sleep tonight' and then hung up, so I knew I had a place (and thus that I had somehow miraculously passed Maths).

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 14/08/2026 11:47

I started uni 1993, 1992/3 was last round of poly and uni applications as far as I recall. It was paper applications. You hand wrote a paragraph personal statement and teacher added her reference paragraph.
One was orange that’s dredged a memory up.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 14/08/2026 11:45

I was last year of dual system. I had a firm and insurance uni offer and a firm and insurance poly. Grades ranged from As to Ds.
I missed a grade and thought I’d not got in a university but I got a letter in post day after from my insurance uni accepting me.
My husband had no offers as school predicted ridiculously low grades (no love lost between him and teachers) he got all As. He says he rang uni in clearing as a friend was going there for same subject and gave him the brochure.
No parental or school input.

pinkdelight · 14/08/2026 11:43

MargaretThursday · 14/08/2026 11:35

The two forms were UCAS which was for universities
PCAS was for polytechnics and colleges.

UCAS certainly had firm and insurance, not sure if PCAS did.

In 1994 the polytechnics became universities and so they mixed the two.
For a couple of years you could name 8 on the UCAS form to make up for there not being two forms ( with 5 on each)

It was UCCA and PCAS in early 90s. Orange booklet and blue one if memory serves.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 14/08/2026 11:37

I would much prefer a shift to applying grades in hand.
I agree with smoke and mirrors. It’s a massive barrier to social mobility too. Those with parents who know how the system works invariably fare better.
Finance is a massive factor. There’s some great options in clearing but if no guaranteed uni accommodation you are facing expensive private halls. Only those with parental funding can contemplate that. My DD’s friend got York in clearing - great result for her with her C/D grades but only accommodation was £10,000 a year.
It’s all so cynical. I can remember being on a parents facebook group last year and Liverpool Uni dropped its clearing law grade to ABB. The next day Liverpool JM suddenly offered unconditional to some students prior to results. Mum posting how marvellous they really want our dc. The mums who know the system say hang fire for her results she might be able to trade up to RG Liverpool and in such a competitive area like law well worth considering.

MargaretThursday · 14/08/2026 11:35

The two forms were UCAS which was for universities
PCAS was for polytechnics and colleges.

UCAS certainly had firm and insurance, not sure if PCAS did.

In 1994 the polytechnics became universities and so they mixed the two.
For a couple of years you could name 8 on the UCAS form to make up for there not being two forms ( with 5 on each)

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 14/08/2026 11:14

Stowickthevast · 14/08/2026 11:11

I feel like this used to be the system. I don't remember having to choose a firm and insurance (early 90s).

no I did mine in the early 90's too and don't remember choosing now you mention it. I also had 2 forms. One of uni and one for poly ( which did not only have technical courses. My friend did a degree in English at a poly.

Stowickthevast · 14/08/2026 11:11

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 14/08/2026 10:39

Agree. It's such a ridiculous stress inducing system! Why, for example at the very least, do they not allow you to shortlist your 5 so keep a larger variety of options you then choose from calmly post results? Or just a better post results system?

I feel like this used to be the system. I don't remember having to choose a firm and insurance (early 90s).

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 14/08/2026 10:39

SwanWings · 14/08/2026 10:04

How’s comes the rest of Europe manage to a post results based system ?

yet we have this seriously weird bonkers system
of apply on often false predicted grade then uni
lowering the grades to ccc or lower

it’s all a bit smoke and mirrors

and seems to be designed to create a sort of scarify mindset and make people panic into making huge financial descions without the time to really think it through ?

sure a post results based system like rest of Europe would eliminated sooooo much of this stress ???

Agree. It's such a ridiculous stress inducing system! Why, for example at the very least, do they not allow you to shortlist your 5 so keep a larger variety of options you then choose from calmly post results? Or just a better post results system?

Manthide · 14/08/2026 10:24

@manywanderings me too! I wish my dc wouldn't be 'taxed' for going to university for their whole working life.

manywanderings · 14/08/2026 10:05

Today I woke up thinking - all the tension and then excitement and relief. And now - grr. About student loans. So I've started worrying about the next thing now! I do really worry about it and wish we were wealthy and could pay everything for him so no student debt. They work so hard and want to achieve. Son was insistent he wanted to go to university (understandably) but I really wish governments would write off student loan debt! Anyway. It is what it is. But grr. Maybe that's for another thread - funding.

SwanWings · 14/08/2026 10:04

Roundaboot · 14/08/2026 09:56

I agree, the system as it is is bonkers with offers being based on grades predicted by teachers, and then the stressful wait and last minute decisions being made on results day.

How’s comes the rest of Europe manage to a post results based system ?

yet we have this seriously weird bonkers system
of apply on often false predicted grade then uni
lowering the grades to ccc or lower

it’s all a bit smoke and mirrors

and seems to be designed to create a sort of scarify mindset and make people panic into making huge financial descions without the time to really think it through ?

sure a post results based system like rest of Europe would eliminated sooooo much of this stress ???

NellyNoMates · 14/08/2026 10:03

Philandbill · 14/08/2026 09:24

Absolutely agree. And, though it is a big generalisation, I think the view is that private schools tend to over predict grades and state schools can under predict.
Both my DDs opted out of predicted grades/ clearing by planning a local foundation year. Even if that hadn't been an option I'd have encouraged a gap year. DD2 will be applying this year with known grades so should get quick answers. DD1 knew in the January that she'd have a place at her preferred university and the summer felt much calmer. There was a lot of pressure from school to apply and defer but I could not see the point of that.
Hard to see how to improve the system though....

I agree that the system is bonkers and actually quite unfair as it’s more dependent on getting offers than on actual achievement. I’ve also a DS in Dublin so have walked through the CAO system with him and much prefer it.

However, I would caution against assuming that applying with grades in hand gets a better/easier result within the current system.

When we did open days with both DS and DD, all the unis said very openly that they couldn’t give preferential treatment to people applying with grades in hand compared to predicted grades and had to treat them all equally.

Anecdotally, My niece applied for nursing in U6th with predicted grades of 4A. She got her interviews and got 5 offers. She took a year out (which included some relevant experience) and none of the courses would allow her to defer so had to re-apply with grades in hand. She re-applied with 4A confirmed and only got 2 offers the second time around, and neither her previous firm or insurance made an offer. She ended up taking another year out, and reapplied for a 3rd time. This time she got 3 offers and thankfully it included the one she really wanted. But all that to say, that it’s not a given that if you have grades in hand, even if they exceed the entry requirements, you will get an offer.

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