Schools and colleges prepare for a results day like no other

Thursday is A-Level results day, traditionally a day of high hopes and anticipation when students attend their schools and colleges to discover how well they have done in their exams.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year there have been no exams. In fact for many, there has been no school - or at least not one they could attend. 

Results day will therefore look very different this year.  

The pandemic - and latest restrictions - means many educational establishments like Ashton Sixth Form will be severely limiting the number of students who can go onto the college site.  

Students will receive their results instead online - either via email, although online appointments and a small number of in-person support appointments will be made available on the day.

It is the same at Clarendon Sixth Form and Tameside College and will see establishments releasing statements, with no on site interviews with the press possible this year.

Glossopdale School says it is catering for the wishes of its students when it comes to picking up their A-Level examination results.

Some will receive them by email, others through the post, while those who want to call in to school to collect them personally will be given appointment times and specific entrances to use.

The methods of deciding the results are broadly similar for A-levels and GCSE’s, with schools and colleges themselves asked to predict students’ grades.

In turn these predictions will be ‘examined’ by exam boards with data for previous years also being taken into account to provide a calculated grade.

The aim is to make sure the results are fair and consistent.

The process for deciding grades has been set by Ofqual, the government’s body for regulating exams.

However, results across the border in Scotland - released earlier than in England - sparked widespread protest among students who had seen their achievements downgraded, prompting an apology from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that her government “did not get it right”, and a regrading.

Students unhappy with their results in England can, if they wish, sit exams in the autumn and should check with their school or college for more information.

On Tameside Radio on Thursday (13 August), we will be speaking to educational leaders from Tameside College and Ashton Sixth Form about the changes, what they mean and how they have affected results this year.

Tune into Sarah Hall’s Tameside Today programme from 11am on 103.6FM.

Those who were due to sit GCSE exams will receive their results next Thursday, August 20.

Help is at hand 

This year, the process for deciding grades has been set by Ofqual, the government’s body for regulating exams.

The government has already announced that grades will not be downgraded from mock grades students have achieved - the announcement coming in the wake of the debacle regarding grades in Scotland.

But for students who have not made their hoped-for grades, support and advice is readily available. Students are advised to seek support directly from colleges first.

Other useful contacts include:

• National Careers Service: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk or call 0800 100 900

• UCAS: www.ucas.com

• National Apprenticeships Service: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

Support is also available at https://hub.gmhsc.org.uk/mental-health/in-your-area/ 

Main image:

FLASHBACK: A past A-Level results day at Glossopdale - but the day will be very different this year.