Amongst the many celebrations that A-level results day often brings, there are cases where students haven’t received the results they had anticipated, causing panic, confusion, and disappointment.
This can often leave parents with the task of guiding them through the pressure of working out what their next steps are, meaning it’s important to get it right and support your child as best as you can.
Dr Richard Anderson, Director of Learning at online training provider, High Speed Training, provides parents with tips on what to do if your child hasn’t achieved the results they wanted:
Dr Anderson said “Whatever results students are faced with, remembering that each individual has experienced their own, personal journey to get there is vital. Remind them of the obstacles they’ve overcome to get to this point – it’s a credit to their work ethic in such challenging times.
“For students who haven’t done as well as expected, they’re going to be feeling a whole mixture of emotions, including disappointment and panic. It’s important to remind them that they did their best, which is only something to be proud of – these results won’t be the sole determinant of their future success.
“Avoid asking questions like ‘why didn’t you revise harder?’ or focusing on subjects they underperformed in. If they’re already disappointed in their performance, these questions will only serve to undermine their self confidence and make them feel worse.”
Consider the career path your child wants to take
Dr Anderson explains: “Many students will be under the impression that not receiving their desired results means they can’t pursue the career path they had in mind – it’s important to reassess and rationalise these thoughts.
“It may be that their chosen university will still accept students who speak to them directly, whether on their preferred course or a similar course that they can later transfer from. Alternatively, there are many other routes to go down, including clearing, apprenticeships and internships to reach their goal.”
“There isn’t one linear process that every student needs to follow. By reminding yourself and your child of this, you open up a much wider variety of possibilities for them to explore.”
Don’t rush into decision making; seek further support and advice
Dr Anderson said: “In the unfortunate case that your child doesn’t receive the results they need, take time to let feelings and emotions die down so that you’re both able to see the bigger picture. There’s no immediate rush to make a decision, regardless of the outcome you’ve been faced with.
“Your child’s educational support system will already provide a network of people available to consult with on what the next step should be – these people are trained and knowledgeable in this specific field so it’s really important to utilise them.
“Trained careers advisors can also help your child by providing a personalised plan of action based on the career path they have in mind.”
For more information on High Speed Training, and education training resources, visit: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/courses/education/
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