A-level results U-turn ‘doesn’t change much’ for students

A-level students in England might be given grades estimated by their lecturers, quite than by an algorithm, after a authorities U-turn. Listed below are some reactions from those that have misplaced out on college locations amid the confusion.

‘Not that a lot has modified’

Emily King would not really feel a lot better in regards to the authorities’s determination, as a result of “not that a lot has modified”.

The 18-year-old from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, says being downgraded from a C to a U in A-level biology final week “actually knocked my confidence” – and meant she was rejected from the College of Lincoln, the place she had a proposal to review midwifery.

Emily has emailed the college because the authorities announcement, however nonetheless would not know if she’s in or not. She’s received no different provides so will face a yr out and can apply once more subsequent yr if Lincoln say no. “I would should re-do that complete interview course of once more, which takes up a whole lot of time and some huge cash,” she says.

Emily says she’s not discovered a lot consolation within the thought of being awarded her predicted grades. “I will at all times know that I used to be given a U. And I do know that I did not deserve that grade,” she says.

“I am fairly glad [about the U-turn] but in addition a bit aggravated. This could have occurred final week. Or perhaps a month in the past.”

‘I nonetheless really feel a bit let down’

“I am relieved however fairly annoyed on the similar time. It is too late,” says Zainab Ali, 18, from London, minutes after listening to in regards to the U-turn.

Zainab’s predicted grades have been an A* in historical past, an A in psychology, and a C in chemistry. However after she was given an A, B and a D on results day final week, she misplaced her place to review psychology at Queen Mary College of London – and was informed the course had crammed up.

“I am going through the results for the indecisiveness of people who find themselves in cost,” Zainab says.

She’d come to phrases with the truth that she’s going to her second selection, the College of Westminster, as an alternative – however nonetheless feels annoyed as a result of she had “at all times needed” to go to Queen Mary’s since being a baby. “It is only a very vibrant atmosphere and I actually had admired that. I simply routinely fell in love,” she says.

After first talking to the BBC, Zainab says Queen Mary determined to supply her a spot. The college mentioned on Monday night that it was “deeply sympathetic” to all students affected by the U-turn, and that candidates with revised grades might be assured a spot in the event that they meet the phrases of their unique provide.

Though she is now more likely to get her first selection of college in any case, Zainab says the previous week has been an “terrible” and “complicated” expertise. “I felt like I have been actually let down. Now [after the U-turn] it is a bit completely different, however I nonetheless really feel a bit let down in any case of that. It was actually, actually worrying.”

Making the very best of an ‘terrible’ scenario

Kath Burbidge’s son Sam Thier is working a shift at B&Q close to his house in Willsbridge, Bristol. On the similar time, the 18-year-old is on the cellphone ready his flip to talk to Cardiff College. He needs to see if they will make house for him on the dentistry course he initially had a proposal for, however was rejected final week as his predicted grades of A*AA have been downgraded to BBB.

“I cried for 48 hours and did not sleep after Thursday. I simply really feel so sorry for him,” Kath says. “He is labored so arduous on all the pieces.”

Sam’s A* in chemistry meant Cardiff supplied him a spot on their chemistry Masters course. He’d simply determined to simply accept it – and subsequently handed in his discover at B&Q – when the information got here by that his grades can be bumped up.

As she receives updates by textual content from Sam (he is now 20th within the queue), Kath wonders if he may take the chemistry provide as an alternative.

“He is attempting to simply make the very best of an terrible, terrible job that simply by no means ought to have occurred. Will he suppose ‘I will go and do chemistry now’, simply because he is fed up with the entire thing?”

‘I can preserve my head up now’

Connor Bragger, 18, from Redditch, was given BCD final Thursday, and wanted a BBB to get right into a journalism course at Sheffield. He was predicted ABB so ought to, theoretically, be allowed to go now.

However tonight, he is disillusioned to search out the cellphone traces for the College of Sheffield’s admissions workplace are closed – so regardless of the announcement, he would not know if he’ll be heading there in September.

“Results day is [supposed to be] if you get solutions – no more questions,” Connor says.

His second selection is the College of Gloucestershire, the place he has an unconditional provide. However now he is received the grades for Sheffield, he hopes he can go there.

Connor is attempting to remain optimistic, and says he is happy with the U-turn.

“There have been two containers that I used to be aggravated about not assembly, which was stepping into my first selection, and getting grades I felt like I had earned. So even when I am unable to get into my first selection, I really feel as if I’ve now received results that I earned from my arduous work all yr. So if it would not all go to plan, I can nonetheless preserve my head up a little bit bit greater.”

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