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

@beckyinman

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

Hi @beckyinman thanks for your question. It's difficult to say as there are still a lot of questions left unanswered, it's a whole year group of pupils who have missed out on taking their exams so we can not predict any long term issues just yet.

@Princess123c

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

Hi @Princess123c thanks for your question. Pupils can appeal against their grades on the basis of mock exam results - for further information, you can also have a look at the following websites:

www.gov.uk/government/news/appeal-arrangements-for-as-a-levels-and-gcses?utm_source=0f1fa01d-ca7c-4d7b-b467-72f6cc167ffb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

www.tes.com/news/exams-2020-guide-appealing-gcse-and-level-grades

@IonaAilidh11

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

Hi @IonaAilidh11 thanks for your question. There will be changes to exams and assessments in 2021 - please see further information on expected changes on the gov website: www.gov.uk/government/news/exams-and-assessments-in-2021

What's the best bit of careers advice you've had or can give to help us support our children?

@purpleskull

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

Hi @purpleskull thanks for your question. This is something that is affecting a whole year group of pupils so it's likely there will be both positive and negative repercussions. For further information, please visit the gov website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020

@Theimpossiblegirl

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?

Hi @Theimpossiblegirl thanks for your question. Pupils can appeal against their grades on the basis of mock exam results - for further information on how to appeal, please see the following websites:

www.gov.uk/government/news/appeal-arrangements-for-as-a-levels-and-gcses?utm_source=0f1fa01d-ca7c-4d7b-b467-72f6cc167ffb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

www.tes.com/news/exams-2020-guide-appealing-gcse-and-level-grades

@sheilads105

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?

Hi @sheilads105 thanks for your question. I would say this depends on what type of job/career you are looking to get into. If the job requires a degree, university is a worthwhile route to consider - to help you decide, you can find more information about Job Profiles on the National Careers Service website and the Prospects.ac website:

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles

Alternatively, there are also other post-18 options that you could look into that may be better suited to you/your desired career. These can be found on the National Careers Service website:

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-18

Thank you @FrancescaCinotti
I sent her back in, she's been supported to appeal and has secured her first choice uni place based on today's results, so is happy.
I do think everyone should appeal, don't take it sitting down.

@juju3

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

Hi @juju3 thanks for your question. Apprenticeships are a good way to gain experience in your chosen field as you have the opportunity to study while completing on the job training. For more information on the different types of Apprenticeship levels, please review the following website:

www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/Choices/Apprenticeships.aspx

It's helpful to have an idea of the type of industry you would like to get into, as this can help you decide what option would be best (regardless of the virus situation). I would also think about how you prefer to learn - apprenticeships will involve 80% practical work experience and 20% study time. You can also find out more information on post-18 career choices here:

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-18

@Theimpossiblegirl

Thank you *@FrancescaCinotti* I sent her back in, she's been supported to appeal and has secured her first choice uni place based on today's results, so is happy. I do think everyone should appeal, don't take it sitting down.

Hi @Theimpossiblegirl - what a great result and congratulations! Really pleased to hear she was supported and it has worked out the best way possible. All the best!

Hi ..Do you think it is worth appealing ? as mocks were not in line

Thanks for the links @FrancescaCinotti

@EmzzzEmma

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

Hi @EmzzzEmma thanks for your question. It might be worth going through a careers quiz with her? There is a short 5 minute Buzz Quiz on the icould website which is quite interactive and also has mini YouTube videos on what different jobs involve:

icould.com/buzz-quiz/- the buzz quiz will give her different job options at the end based her personality type. Once you have gone through the quiz together, it might introduce some careers she hadn't thought of before.

You can also call the National Careers Service helpline or contact us through webchat for more information on suitable options for 13-18 year olds:
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-16

@aibutohavethisusername

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

Hi @aibutohavethisusername thanks for your question. As soon as you've sent your application and received your welcome email, you can view your progress by signing into the online system on Track - please view the UCAS website for further information www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/track-your-ucas-application

@PutThemInTheIronMaiden

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

Hi @PutThemInTheIronMaiden thanks for your question. Future Employers are likely to take these results seriously and will consider this when shortlisting applicants. This website may be helpful in providing further information for you:

www.hepi.ac.uk/2020/05/28/how-predicted-and-estimated-grades-do-not-have-to-be-at-the-centre-of-employers-and-universities-decisions-on-recruiting-graduates-and-new-students/

@voyager50

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?

Hi @voyager50 thanks for your question. If you decide to retake the entire year, this will be dependant on your school or college. Whether you appeal, resit, or use the existing grades, all will hold exactly the same value with universities, colleges and employers.

@maryandbuzz1

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

Hi @maryandbuzz1 thanks for your question. These grades have been standardised due to the mitigating circumstances. They shouldn't reflect any less value than other years for Universities and Employers.

@InMySpareTime

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?

Hi @InMySpareTime thanks for your question. It will depend on the university qualification and whether this will be recognised by the apprenticeship provider. I suggest you make contact with the apprenticeship provider and ask them to confirm this for you.

@jessiecat33

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

Hi @jessiecat33 thanks for your question. That's good to hear she has got into her chosen university. You do have the option to appeal your daughter's results if she feels they do not reflect her academic abilities - For further information, please see the following websites:

www.gov.uk/government/news/appeal-arrangements-for-as-a-levels-and-gcses?utm_source=0f1fa01d-ca7c-4d7b-b467-72f6cc167ffb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

www.tes.com/news/exams-2020-guide-appealing-gcse-and-level-grades

Is an apprenticeship a good option or do employers prefer a degree?

@becky004

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.

Hi @becky004 thanks for your question. In the event of unexpected grades, The Department for Education has introduced the “triple lock” measure to ensure that students will be able to either; accept their calculated grade, appeal to receive a valid mock result or sit exams this autumn.

If your daughter would like to use a valid mock result, you can use the appeals process and you will need to tell your daughter's school or college, which will then provide the necessary evidence to the examination board. All three grades will hold exactly the same value with universities, colleges and employers.

If your daughter would like to re-sit an exam this autumn, all subjects will be available in GCSEs, AS and A-Levels for those who want to improve their grades. I hope this helps you!

@yoeydavis

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?

Hi @yoeydavis thanks for your question. The results have been based on teacher’s estimates of what their students would have achieved in their exams. If you have concerns over your child's results, and you would like further information on the grading model, I suggest you make contact with the exam regulator, Ofqual, who should be able to provide you with a more detailed explanation. www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/what-do-after-your-level-results

How do you suggest I explain to my daughter that the extreme hard work she put in was worthwhile when she has found today that her results are below what she was expected to get (as are many other friends who took stem subjects) yet she sees those she knows who took humanities happy with their A and A* grades, knowing that they did not work as hard?

This might be a stupid question but is it easier for you to give careers advice if a student has a career in mind or could you make recommendations based on results?

I’m concerned that universities have the marked down results already. If grade appeals are successful, but courses are over subscribed, will universities discriminate based on the initial downgraded grade? All things being equal they have to make the cut somewhere, I’m worried it will hit those initially downgraded.