A levels 2023 - Results day and beyond

[HereWeGo2023]

Hi all. I thought I’d make a new thread as the countdown one is filling up.
Results day is here and I’m sure we will all value each others support, today and for the next stage of their journeys.

My step daughter got one lower grade than predicted but fortunately her first choice university has offered her a place. Nando’s tonight celebrating with her pals, family dinner out out on Saturday. We’re delighted

On the question of disparity between different kinds of school, this https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/a-levels-results-2023-england suggests that private schools and schools in the SE/London are the 'winners' compared to 2019.

My daughter missed her offer at Bristol for medicine.

But made the grades for medicine at UEA.

She’s a bit teary as had heart set on Bristol. Going out tonight to celebrate.

Thanks to all on this thread for support

Finally got DD results at 1.30pm emailed from someone in the department after many phone calls and then the official one came through at 2pm.
She got BBC which she is really pleased with -is slightly below her predicted of ABC but to be honest none of us including her thought she would get those grades.
She has a deferred firm place at Brighton but is still not 100% sure what she is doing after her gap year!
What a morning -I have done zero work ,having cleared my diary till 10 so had better try and get my head down now!
She is off for her free nandos now and then now doubt drinking a lot tonight, i think I may too.x

UEA is a great uni. I feel like it suffers slightly from the Alan Partridge associations but Norwich is actually a lot better than you’d think. Wishing her the best of luck xx

I thought it was a larger cohort - but DH thought less applicants.

I caught a news report,forget which channel, which said fewer of cohort are applying and gave a list of possible reasons - more alternate routes and off putting debt etc.

Sorry to hear the news of those who have not got what they wanted/needed.
It seems very variable. DC's school has done very well - a few have missed their predictions but not many and they have mostly got their firm uni choices.
However the school always gives a predicted grade (best chance results) and a likely grade and the students tend to use the likely grades as their guide to uni choices.

I met a medicine student at UEA - she absolutely loved it. She'd actually originally picked Birmingham but decided it wasn't for her at the last minute. I wish I was a teen again and could study there... I'd be right into the Zigs.

My DD's girlfriend has an offer from UEA through clearing. She's had a shit morning with firm and insurance gone due to lower than expected grades while her contextual offers were really high. She's had a very rough time of it over the last few years. They're off up there tomorrow to have a look around as my DD adored UEA and would have been happy there if she'd not made her firm.

The extra also year helped explore other options and confirm it's what they really wanted.

Very wise!

Would you bother remarking if your child is 1 mark off an A, when they’ve been lucky enough to secure their firm choice? DS was disappointed as it is the subject he’s doing at Uni and I think he would be good for his confidence if he were lucky to have the grade shifted upwards.

If your DC is in the place that he wants to be, I would NOT bother.

My students tell me that generally by the end of Fresher's' Week, the question "What did you do in your A Levels?" has disappeared. Nobody cares. Honestly.

Your DS should have confidence in his acceptance into a course he wants to do!

A Levels are important for the learning they represent, not the grade. And for getting children where they want to go next in their lives.

If it's ANY consolation to your DD, I much prefer teaching undergrads like your DD, than those like her BF. And university is a marathon. Studying the night before won't cut it after 1st term!

@Thefatbutteredpig She's going to love UEA! Her money will go so so much further when going out etc and it's far safer than Bristol. A lot less drama with accomodation too. Cheap train tickets around there as well.

Added to which, a lot of students chose their 'best' subjects to do for A level on the back of 2021 GCSE grades, which were not representative of their true ability.

Admissions person here - seems an unnecessary risk to remark. If child has firm
offer from first choice why? A’level grades unlikely to be significant to future employers and certainly won’t be glanced at for postgrad offers.

@Katbum we aren’t that fussed as parents but it is the one course he was predicted an A and so he’s frustrated (especially since it is just one mark out of 300). And I guess as parents we were wondering if it would be a confidence boost. Tricky to know what to do and school driving a remark which we presume might be for their own benefit / results?!

I work in the apprenticeship industry - if you need any help give me a message.

if it’s a level 2 or 3 apprenticeship he can do his functional skills alongside it with the provider

Oh that's nice to hear, I'll pass that on at some point when she's calmed down a bit

My advice to my students’ parents in this situation is to offer to give them the money that would otherwise be spent on a review of marking (note: it’s NOT a re-mark) to spend on a treat for themselves.

when she's calmed down a bit

We're quite chilled out here, DS is at local grammar. My Mum messaged me this morning asking me to let her know..... I answered 'let you know what?' 😆 More to life than exams.

@Katbum possibly very wise words!
@LoserWinner sorry this is all new to us, can you clarify the ‘it’s not a remark’? Is it not? How does it work? Is it just a checking the marks total up to the same figure?

My daughter is going to UEA too. Did she visit? It is a lovely uni. My daughter can't wait

Bloody hell @troppibambini6 another day on the rollercoaster! Glad it's all worked out.

@FarEast thank you too - wise words again

Ds and I have just spend about 5 hours googling and going round and round in circles.
He's so lost, he had his heart set on the decree apprenticeship and doesn't really know what to do now.