Do you have questions about your child’s options following A level results day? Q&A with The National Careers Service - £100 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

With uncertainty at a peak surrounding A level results day this year, we’ve partnered with the National Careers Service to bring you an expert careers adviser to help answer your questions about your child’s choices - including apprenticeships, university, internships and more - following their A level results.

Find more information on post-18 options here.

Francesca Cinotti, a qualified Careers Adviser, will be answering your questions. Read on if you’d like to know a bit more about her background: “Francesca is a qualified Careers Adviser, usually covering the Central London area. Francesca has been a part of the National Careers Service London team since 2018 and her areas of expertise include working with customers who are hoping to change careers and helping customers who have been out of work for a long time.”

Post your questions for Francesca on the thread below - she’ll be online to answer questions on results day and periodically in the days following.

Please note the advisers will be giving advice with the education system in England in mind. If you're living elsewhere, any advice given may not be relevant.

All who post on the thread with a question for Francesca will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Have a child awaiting GCSE results? Keep an eye out for our Q&A next week.

Thanks

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

When i was at school going to university wasn't a necessary route in order to get a reasonable job/career. Is this still the case or are individuals with a degree listed on their CVs seen as more desirable to employers compared to those who have apprenticeships or previous experience in the workplace?
Thanks

Will the clearing system be different this year with A levels more or less the same as mocks?

If a student decides to take a re-sit in the autumn, won't they be at a disadvantage having missed schooling between March and September?

How will employers view this years grades?

Do you foresee any long term issues with students missing these exams?

If i don't agree with the grade my child has got, can i appeal? How do i go about this? Many thanks

what will happen to students results continuing on from this years exams, ie next years exams

Do you think there will be any positive/negative repercussions from how the grades will be awarded this year?

I'm in the car at my dds school and the atmosphere is so flat. She has been marked down from the teacher assessments as have most of her friends.

So my question is how do we appeal?

With the current job crisis is it better to spend 3 or 4 years at University getting a qualification hoping the economy is in better shape after?

Do you think a modern apprenticeship might be a better long term option (rather than a degree) at the present time bearing in mind all the uncertainties of the virus

My child doesn’t know what she wants to do, how can I help her choose a suitable career?

Do you have to click anything on UCAS track to accept your place or is it done automatically?

Will future employers still take seriously the results from this years' exams?

Can A level students retake the whole of year 13 and sit their A-levels in 2021 instead?

If so, will this be seen as favourable for future university and job applications?

DS has two offers that turned to Unconditional yesterday, but also has several applications for Degree Apprenticeships awaiting confirmation. If he takes an unconditional offer then gets an apprenticeship place, can he transfer any completed uni credits to his apprenticeship?

Will grades be seen as the same value as those from previous years?

My daughter was lucky enough to get into her chosen university but is unhappy with her results how can I help her

How do you help your child if they don't get the required grades needed for their chosen University? My daughter is desperately worried that she won't achieve her required grades, given the mayhem of Covid.

If the results are not what we expected ( not as good ), is there any recourse, or anywhere to get answers on why, or how, that result was reached?

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the questions so far and I'm looking forward to answering them.

@mummyuk86

When i was at school going to university wasn't a necessary route in order to get a reasonable job/career. Is this still the case or are individuals with a degree listed on their CVs seen as more desirable to employers compared to those who have apprenticeships or previous experience in the workplace? Thanks

Hi @mummyuk86 thanks for your question. Some employers will see a degree as more desirable depending on the industry you are going into - for more information on this, you can have a look at the Job Profiles on the National Careers Service website which will outline what a job involves and the which type of qualifications will be recognised in that particular job role: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers

Apprenticeships or previous work experience will be very useful in showing the employer you are 'job ready' - this is something a degree can not give you, so for other employers, previous experience will be the more desirable option. I hope this answers your question!

@dadshere

Will the clearing system be different this year with A levels more or less the same as mocks?

Hi @dadshere thanks for your question. As far as I'm aware, the clearing system should be the same even with Teacher's predicted grades - for more information on this, you can have a look through the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/clearing-launch

@gd2011

If a student decides to take a re-sit in the autumn, won't they be at a disadvantage having missed schooling between March and September?

Hi @gd2011 thanks for your question. The dates of exams are factors that can be taken into consideration, however it's unlikely they will be at a disadvantage given the mitigating circumstances of the pandemic. This issue will affect a lot of UK school leavers. Employers and universities are more than likely to take resits into consideration when shortlisting applicants in future.

@wellingtonsandwaffles

How will employers view this years grades?

Hi @wellingtonsandwaffles thanks for your question. I can't speak for all employers, however they are likely to consider these grades in light of the circumstances and the complexity of the grading model used.