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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Is there any need to be physically in the UK on A level results day....

57 replies

cruusshed · 17/02/2016 13:45

We anticipate a bit of horse trading.....but can this all be done online/by phone.

Any risks being outside of UK (France) at this time?

I imagine it will "feel" more stressful....

OP posts:
Coconutty · 19/02/2016 09:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Headofthehive55 · 19/02/2016 15:44

When would you get back? I think you can do most stuff all via Internet, in some ways if you think it might be a difficult time not being there may be helpful as long as you can go through clearing if needed. Getting school to text your results might be an idea too. Going into school was just awful - my DD was in floods of tears on the way out - it was like a public humiliation.

My DD didn't want to celebrate, even though she had a place it wasn't where she wanted, her friends all kept wanting her to come out as they had all done very well.

So in retrospect, I'd go away, get the results texted to you and get a good internet connection.

BoboChic · 19/02/2016 15:46

It's absolutely fine to be away on results day but take precautions - stay in a close time zone and have an excellent telephone and Internet connection that you don't mind using extensively. You never know.

gonegrey56 · 19/02/2016 18:49

My dd's boarding school would only hand over exact results in person on results day . No question of texting them . Relevant staff were in from 6.30 am for advice and help, lots sitting beside the telephones as students rang universities if grades had been missed etc.

If results are in doubt, don't be away .

BeeppityBeep · 19/02/2016 18:54

I'm sure you could arrange for your DC could provide written permission to the school to allow his results to be given to someone else on results day.

Humphriescushion · 19/02/2016 18:55

We were in France and it was fine. My daughter missed the grades required as well but we just rang the university ( and others as back up) and all eventually sorted. Being in the UK would not have any difference.
Make sure you have internet access and phone access though.

Original poster
cruusshed · 21/02/2016 13:48

Thanks all. No firm dates in the diary for holiday yet - but also have GCSE results with other child the following week - so looks like we should be here.

It's all done on the phone. Universities have a well oiled machine for dealing with Clearing applicants, and it doesn't account for people turning up in person.

I was not suggesting turning up at clearing options - just wondered would it make any difference if you turned up at the dept of the uni you an offer from and had just missed one grade on .... so not clearing?

OP posts:
disquit2 · 21/02/2016 16:17

I was not suggesting turning up at clearing options - just wondered would it make any difference if you turned up at the dept of the uni you an offer from and had just missed one grade on .... so not clearing?

But, as already pointed out, most academics in any given department are not involved with admissions decisions and many academics will be away at research conferences during August.

You would have a strong chance of turning up at an empty department, with the (admission team) academics you need to speak to sitting elsewhere on campus, working with the administrators manning the clearing phone lines.

Even if you did happen to find the relevant academics, why would showing up in person versus talking on the phone make any difference? Universities have a legal obligation to deal fairly and equally with all admissions cases. This would include not showing preference for a candidate who showed up versus one who called.

And, finally, universities receive grades before students do. They therefore make decisions, one way or another, before the students receive their results: the UCAS track will display the decision at the same time as the students get their results. So there isn't really anything to say in person: either it's a yes or it's a no. If it's a no, then showing up in person is going to be very, very unlikely to change the decision.

marmaladegranny · 21/02/2016 16:30

Bottom line should be your DC's opinion; do they want to be away then? None of our DC would countenance any family holiday that included results day, either GCSE or A Level - it was a day for celebrating or commiserating with your friends!

DeoGratias · 21/02/2016 17:04

I wasn't. One of my sons wasn't - we were on a Pacific island which did have internet connection. It is better if you can be home, I usually book summer holidays so we are home on results day.

Original poster
cruusshed · 22/02/2016 15:02

Thanks disquit - I understand now that being there in person will hold no benefit.

I am less clear about the Yes/No decision though - as you say this is made before the students even have their results....so where and how does the hanging on phones and pleading with the admin team that I have been hearing about come into it?

OP posts:
titchy · 22/02/2016 15:11

The begging comes from applicants in Clearing whose Firm and Insurance has declined them as they didn't meet their grades and the university weren't prepared to accept them. They are left with no place and have to phone round begging for a place with their grades. There is always an amount of begging from declined applicants of course, but it doesn't usually make any difference unless they are going for a remark in which case the university generally gives them a two week stay of execution.

Original poster
cruusshed · 22/02/2016 15:24

titchy that is really, really helpful!!

As his plan B is to take a year out to re apply to his preference (retaking if necessary) - he will not enter clearing....so being on the end of the phone and around on results day is not required for him....

OP posts:
ProfGrammaticus · 22/02/2016 15:34

So when you said you anticipated a bit of horse trading, you didn't mean clearing? I think you confused a few people there!

Original poster
cruusshed · 22/02/2016 15:45

Prof

I clearly did not understand the process ie horse-trading is only allowed in clearing - getting to grips with it slowly now -- I thought that you may have had the opportunity to plead/horse trade on a near miss with your firm or insurance - but now it is clear that this is all sorted behind the scenes ahead of results day.

OP posts:
Eggsandketchup · 22/02/2016 15:53

Not at all! I was abroad when my results came out.

titchy · 22/02/2016 15:55

If he ends up reapplying for his first choice next year which seems likely, just double check they're happy to accept resit grades. Most are, but a few the MN ones! only accept a grade taken at the first attempt. Also bear in mind A levels start to be linear from next year so one year resits won't be possible in a lot of courses.

IPokeBadgers · 22/02/2016 15:55

stay in a close time zone and have an excellent telephone and Internet connection that you don't mind using extensively. You never know.

I agree with this if you are in a situation where you are fairly confident that your child is going to get what they need, But if you think that your child is borderline case in terms of getting the desired/required results and will need guidance from the school, I would strongly recommend being around.

I work in a school. On results day we have 260 young people getting results and all careers staff are on standby to help the ones who didn't get what they need. Priority assistance will ALWAYS be given to those pupils who are here in person, and that means that anyone phoning or emailing will have their contact details taken and will have to wait for a call-back. And this can cause distress, frustration and occasional crossed wires: if you are not around, accept in advance that you are not going to be a priority.

We always advise that pupils and their parents be in the country on results day. If you can't be, make sure that all permissions for a third party to collect grades/represent your child in his/her absence are arranged in writing with the school before the teachers all bugger off on their holidays....or they will refuse to hand out/discuss problems on the day.

In my mind, being around in person to deal with any fall-out on A-level results day, and making any required decisions about the future, is part of being a grown up: I mean that mainly in relation to the students but I guess probably applies to the parents as well.

Hope it goes well for you OP!

BackforGood · 22/02/2016 16:03

It is a challenge when you have a dc waiting for GCSE and another waiting for A-level results, but I agree with most - I think it's important for the dc to be able to get in to school / spend time with their friends.

I have no experience of boarding school - whoever it was that mentioned it - but I should imagine their 'set-up' is always going to be different, as their 'clientele' is going to be different from your ordinary state, day schools.

When ds got his A-levels, he knew before he got into school that he'd got his place at chosen university, as he got an e-mail from them, confirming place at about 8am, but where other youngsters haven't got their places confirmed, I wouldn't want to be dealing with all of that from abroad. By being in school they get support from their teachers, and, even if they don't need support themselves, it's sometimes nice for them to be around for the friend who does.

Molio · 22/02/2016 16:16

It was me who wondered about boarding schools and interestingly gonegrey said the system was the same as our state day school: turn up in person for detailed results.

SanityClause · 22/02/2016 16:26

I don't know where you intend to be, but I have to say my experience of holiday internet is pretty shit, both in hotels and self catering properties.

I will be in your situation next year, with A levels and GCSE results within a week of each other, so I do sympathise.

If they are your only DC, can you sneak out in late June once all exams are finished?

hellsbells99 · 22/02/2016 17:36

We were away for DD2's GCSE results and she was happy to be away. She had a guaranteed place in 6th form although we had to email her acceptance and subject form within 48 hours. We had arranged for her to have the results emailed but she didn't receive them until a couple of hours after her friends which seemed a long time!
For DD1's A level results last year, we all felt it essential to be here and DD1 would not have enjoyed a holiday in results week - she was very anxious and didn't sleep properly for a few days before results. She was fine, others weren't as lucky and the school staff were very good helping them.
Your DS may change his mind yet about the option of clearing and if so, you may need to visit other universities.
We will be around for DD2's A level results this year

Original poster
cruusshed · 22/02/2016 17:56

Thanks all for sharing your experiences.....yes he does need to check that his course will take resits if necessary...and how where he could do it....and he might change his mind and decide to enter clearing....maybe he should prepare to do this and see what comes up rather than be totally stuck on Manchester....

As he has just booked an inter-rail trip and only returns 2 days before results day - I think that we will be here now and hanging back for GCSEs as well.

...my youngest will be sitting the 11+ at the beginning of September - so a v stressful year all round....

OP posts:
titchy · 22/02/2016 18:34

Yes definitely check that out. It's unfortunate that this years cohort are massively disadvantaged by the lack of resit opportunities.

FoolsAndJesters · 22/02/2016 18:38

I know there is at least one Uni (Sheffield) that allows you to pre-register your 'possible' interest in clearing or adjustment before results day. I think there may be others but I'm not sure. Provisional clearing lists got released well before results day by many Universities last year so your son but probably you if he is away can do some research on the courses that might be available in clearing on results day.