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

[SlightlyJaded]

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 :)

Ah, that's a good point!
And sorry for the weird bold - it looks like I'm boasting but it seems to have appeared when I was trying to write the A*!

It seems I only make DC who have painful results days! Gah

So after the two years ago debacle with DD (that some of you have kindly remembered and referred to), this year DS dropped from a strong B/low A to a D in one of his subjects. It's the one they've had no subject teacher for nearly five months (not even supply) and we've been back and forth with his sixth form about the possible impact, and it has come to pass.

His other two grades were the lower end of what he expected (B&C) so he has missed his firm of Liverpool, despite them being pretty generous with grades today. He is completely happy with his insurance of NTU but I am cross (again) and told him he should at least call Liverpool and explain mitigating circs. He has said he doesn't want to and just wants to go to Trent and be happy about it.

So once again, I'm biting my bloody tongue and torn between being relieved that we don't have to go through clearing and worried that we haven't even tried to improve his situation.

I have no more DC. Thank fuck I never have to do this again.

Well done to all the brilliant DC who worked hard and are heading off to start their next chapters.

And hand hold to anyone who didn't get quite what they were hoping for.

Thanks all. She is very happy with her choice, just a couple of people put a bit of doubt in my mind. Very proud mum here - I achieved one o level 🤣

Love your DC's BTech success stories! My DD will be doing Animal Management with a view to going into rescue/conservation eventually. We were worried about her going all in on one subject at 16 but with AI threatening to hoover up lots of careers in the next few years we're now glad she's got a clear path.

My DD got what she needed for her course at UEA but in the past few weeks decided she wants a different course - switching from a MFL with a year abroad to an arts subject with a placement year. Totally different. They have asked us to send a portfolio of her work to their admissions email and not to decline anything and they'll get back to us.

She has accommodation already, the course she wants is in clearing and she has the required grades, so it seems it's down to whether they like her portfolio of work. Does this mean it might take longer to hear back because all their candidates for this course need to submit examples of their work and UEA will need to spend time considering them?

The remarking was several weeks for us

Come sit by me. Just missed firm, had a change of heart about insurance, got a verbal clearing offer for Leeds, now waiting for it all to go through so we can figure out accommodation. A roller coaster of a day, but I think we’re in a good place.

BUT… I know Leeds us a great uni but it wasn’t even on our radar. So hit me with all your happy Leeds stories please.

@SlightlyJaded so unlucky to go through this stress twice! I agree with you that it would have been worth your DS picking up the phone to Liverpool, but it's really positive that he's happy with his insurance choice.

You’re welcome. As an aside, I did my Masters at LSE and I couldn’t stand the place. Soulless. I did my first degree in Central London, too, and loved it. So, it’s not the location that was the problem… I just found it full of snotty arses, frankly. But maybe that’s just me.

@SlightlyJaded elder ds went to Trent and did his masters there and loved it!!

Then you probably did not have a priority remark

How long it takes

• up to 20 calendar days for a review of marking
• up to 15 calendar days for a priority review of marking.

www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/after-results/post-results/review-and-priority-review-of-mark

@MargaretThursday thanks, we've emailed college asking to speak to them. There was a lot of changing of teachers between year 1 and year 2. We complained about 1 teacher just not teaching them a topic at all! I got DD a tutor (who was a marker and moderator for that exam board) she got a C in that, which to be honest was always a possibility as DD felt it was her weakest subject but the grades for the other 2 subjects were a shock.

@apricotdreams DS also liked Sheffield and the grades were the same for that and for Durham in his subject. It’s a great uni!

Yes, same situation here. Got a C in strongest subject that was predicted A with ease. Doesn't make sense and worryingly this is the subject he's going to study for degree (still got first choice uni fortunately).

Dare I ask what’s wrong with Sheffield Hallam?
I know it’s an old poly but we’ve only heard good things.
Dd fell in love with the course and lovely Collegiate Campus there and can’t wait to go.

He could consider an EPQ during his Gap Year. That's a great way to get extra UCAS points, in case they're needed.

I went Hallam but that was 15 years ago and I loved it. Depends what course your there for I suppose. Uni of doesn’t do allied healthcare, design courses, sport etc, so can’t compare like for like on these subjects.

however I’ve heard it’s declined in the last number of years. The new buildings in the centre look good though. As you mentioned she fell in love with collegiate assume she’s looking at sport/allied healthcare or one of the sociology/criminology courses, I believe their ranking has gone down for some of these

Nothing at all.

Some people think nothing below Durham is worth it.

All students do better where they are happy.

I did English at Sheffield Hallam many moons ago. It was an amazing course. Barry Hines ( A Kestrel for a Knave/ Kes) was my creative writing tutor there for one semester. I know there have been lots of other good writers there over the years as tutors. My course was in an old stone house in Collegiate Crescent. It was so peaceful and idyllic. I thought the Collegiate campus was about to close though? Such a shame. Obviously I can only comment on my course but don't assume because it's an ex poly that it's shite.

I think that poster simply meant that with A star A star A that student could get an offer from a much higher ranking university. There is nothing wrong with Sheffield Hallam per se. If your DD loves it that is the only thing that matters.

The names/rankings are actually becoming far less relevant with the increase in blind recruitment.

Agreed. I wouldn't go to Durham if you paid me. Each to their own.

Thanks for the replies re Hallam. Dd is doing Sports and Exercise Science and the course looked really good, very her. Practical and hands on with a lot of placements and industry practise I think.
She actually did better than expected and got a distinction star in her sport BTEC, a distinction in her Biology one and a very unexpected A in her a level psychology. I’m super proud of that as due to her adhd and dyslexia I don’t think she’d have been cut out for 3 a levels.

My dd also got 2x A* s and an A and is going to Sheffield Uni.

I can’t stop feeling really sad for DD - but have to keep a positive face on for her. She dropped 2 grades from her predicted in her degree subject. She’d never done that badly in mocks.

..