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Original poster

2025 A Level Results Day and Sept Uni Starters - All Welcome

1000 replies

SlightlyJaded · 25/07/2025 22:26

I couldn't see board specifically dedicated to results day for our DC who have sat A levels this spring. And I know some of us STILL have questions about Uni starters.

DS has Liverpool as his first choice and Notts Trent as his insurance - both to study History. Anyone who recognises me from previous boards might remember the hell we went through with DD a couple of years ago, so DS has applied quite a lot of caution to his choices - perhaps too much, perhaps not enough. Neither of us have any idea what to expect with his results. He has genuinely fluctuated between a D and an A in some of his mocks....

I still haven't done anything about accommodation which is one of the reasons I am starting this thread.

But mostly, it's for nail biting, relief, tears, support, advice and all the other things needed to get us through the next few weeks.

Welcome :)

OP posts:
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5
3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 17:08

DS's first choice has dropped but only by one grade.

However the course he wanted to put for his insurance but didn't because the grades required were higher than his first choice has dropped significantly so it's a new second choice which he would prefer over his insurance. So all lined up to call them first thing if he doesn't pull off lancaster.

doubleshotcappuccino · 13/08/2025 17:12

Has anyone got the phone number for Kings College clearing ? We are getting prepared !

Changed18 · 13/08/2025 17:18

Am making my list of clearing possibles for if DS misses both firm and insurance. Don't think any of this will be needed, but preparing for the worst, and all that.

BusinessScrub · 13/08/2025 17:24

Changed18 · 13/08/2025 17:18

Am making my list of clearing possibles for if DS misses both firm and insurance. Don't think any of this will be needed, but preparing for the worst, and all that.

Me too. One of her top 5 is now at BCC in clearing and is in the top 3 in the UK for one of the subjects

[sidebar - arts subjects are so much less stress]

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 13/08/2025 17:48

Lancaster has it's updated clearing grades up - DD's course (her offer ABB) is BCC so fingers crossed she will hopefully be OK. Quite relieved because looking at Cardiff (which was one of her five choices) the course isn't even in clearing!

3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 17:50

Durham has loads in clearing. They are strict with grades usually and so they reject those with firm offers who were near misses but certainly in the other years we've had A level results ( this is our 5th time!) there weren't as many durham courses as this.

3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 17:51

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 13/08/2025 17:48

Lancaster has it's updated clearing grades up - DD's course (her offer ABB) is BCC so fingers crossed she will hopefully be OK. Quite relieved because looking at Cardiff (which was one of her five choices) the course isn't even in clearing!

Yes DS's course has only dropped one grade but he's looking at a different course as a possibility since he really wants to go to Lancaster and its coming up as BBC

pistachioicecream · 13/08/2025 18:00

Good luck everyone for tomorrow.

This article has done nothing to quell nerves here.‘Smartest’ A-level students in years to cut clearing spots for pupils missing grades

DD's firm wants A star A star A and is not in clearing, and from this doesn't sound like they're likely to be lenient if she misses it. Everything crossed for the morning.

MSN

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/smartest-a-level-students-in-years-to-cut-clearing-spots-for-pupils-missing-grades/ar-AA1KsiY8?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=9f086efda214483bd23e17344349c84c&ei=12

doubleshotcappuccino · 13/08/2025 18:06

Changed18 · 13/08/2025 17:16

King's info here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/clearing/how-to-apply
No phone number yet, but seems as if that will be revealed tomorrow?

Thank you so much ! Xxx

PhotoDad · 13/08/2025 19:50

I will be in the slightly odd position (as a HoD) of having to help my students with clearing etc all morning tomorrow, and not able to help my own DS if there are any problems, or to celebrate with him. Three years ago, it was the same with my DD! Fingers crossed for everyone.

(ETA: He's taking a planned gap-year anyway. I don't quite know what I'd do if he wasn't in that situation and needed help!)

HippyChickMama · 13/08/2025 19:55

Ds is now very nervous about tomorrow, he keeps saying he feels very sick. His firm course has gone into clearing, which we weren’t expecting, not sure if that’s a good thing or not. It doesn’t give the grades they want though, and he already has a lower offer than standard as he qualified for contextual. Good luck to everyone

YellowEllie13 · 13/08/2025 20:10

Sorry if this has been discussed already but if you see your DC’s course in clearing, is it a good sign or a bad sign? I was not expecting to see DD’s course in clearing but it is.

NCTDN · 13/08/2025 20:20

Well that was a stressful hour. We had made a list of courses in clearing. Gone back to check through tonight and most of them have gone. DSs course is not in clearing so can’t see any leniency with grades at all. Glad we checked clearing options but also gutted and even more anxious!

SheilaFentiman · 13/08/2025 20:30

Yes, there have been a lot of updates tonight, lots of the Southampton courses have disappeared for eg

Phoebsie · 13/08/2025 20:36

NCTDN · 13/08/2025 20:20

Well that was a stressful hour. We had made a list of courses in clearing. Gone back to check through tonight and most of them have gone. DSs course is not in clearing so can’t see any leniency with grades at all. Glad we checked clearing options but also gutted and even more anxious!

Who knows, maybe that means they are sticking with students who chose them over those who don't really want to be there.

It's going to be a long night.

elkiedee · 13/08/2025 20:59

It's been a while since I posted on the year 13 thread. DS1 went travelling for a month, and since his return on 6 August has been out pretty much all the time, returning between 4 and 8 am and sleeping until the afternoon. He has told DP that he's planning to go into school to collect his results, probably with some of his mates.

He's hoping to study Maths at Manchester - one of my sisters and I both studied there and his aunt is still there nearly 30 years after she graduated. Several of his friends are still going. Or at least that was the up to date position. He has seemed very uncertain frequently over the last 6 months (he was disappointed by not getting into Oxford - he had interviews).

3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 21:25

Just seen that DSs insurance has dropped from standard offer of AAB to CCD!

Also just been chatting to an SMT member from a top university who said that lots of universities this year are accepting both near misses and also the not so near misses and so as a result not nearly as many students are being passed to their insurance choices. As such, lots of the universities that are often filled with insurance places are having to drop requirements significantly in clearing.

hettie · 13/08/2025 21:52

Where can you see the grades required in clearing? Are all universities posting them on their course website?

3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 21:54

hettie · 13/08/2025 21:52

Where can you see the grades required in clearing? Are all universities posting them on their course website?

not all are but very many have.

OvaHere · 13/08/2025 21:55

3bluellamas · 13/08/2025 21:25

Just seen that DSs insurance has dropped from standard offer of AAB to CCD!

Also just been chatting to an SMT member from a top university who said that lots of universities this year are accepting both near misses and also the not so near misses and so as a result not nearly as many students are being passed to their insurance choices. As such, lots of the universities that are often filled with insurance places are having to drop requirements significantly in clearing.

Edited

Just seen my DS's insurance has also gone to CCD. His offer was ABB. Still hoping for the firm but he would be happy with either. Really hoping we don't need this clearing list we spent this evening compiling.

icecreamfortea · 13/08/2025 22:03

Sheffield’s just put their clearing courses up- just looked at a few but all seem to be the standard offer. Lots of AAB etc

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 13/08/2025 22:22

Feel completely sick.
DS could barely speak a word today.
Good luck everyone.

OP posts:
BusinessScrub · 13/08/2025 22:28

SlightlyJaded · 13/08/2025 22:22

Feel completely sick.
DS could barely speak a word today.
Good luck everyone.

Sleep as well as you can everyone and see you on the other side…

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 13/08/2025 22:36

oooooh one more question, sorry!

IF DS was offered his Insurance but wanted to shop around a bit to see if there was anything he preferred, how long does he have to do that? How long does the offer 'stand'?

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