National helpline opens for students with unexpected A level results

National helpline opens for students with unexpected A level results

Careers advisers from the Exam Results Helpline will be on-hand from 8am on Thursday 15 August (A level results day) to provide careers information and advice to students (and their parents) who receive higher or lower A level results than expected, and more importantly who don’t know what to do next.

Delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education, the helpline opens for 10 days across the exam results period to support schools, colleges and existing careers advice services during a potentially very demanding time.

Last year (2012), the helpline offered a lifeline to over 3,000 students on A level results day alone. And, almost 7,000 students across the whole exam results period.

Providing students with free, independent and expert information and advice about continuing into further or higher education, or pursuing different routes such as vocational qualifications, taking a gap year or finding employment, the helpline can be reached on 0808 100 8000 (calls are free from landlines. Mobile network charges vary).

Nick Hynes, Exam Results Helpline adviser and professional careers adviser with over 25 years' experience, said: "Every year, there are students who don’t get the grades they need for university, there are those who achieve better grades than expected and those whose career plans have changed since they made their original university choices.

"At such a critical and life changing time, it’s imperative that these students are clear what all of their options are, enabling them to make fully informed decisions about their futures."

Advisers are fully qualified with at least five years’ experience working in a careers-based role.