Results Day is such an important day for students worldwide. It is the moment that their 12 years of schooling has finally come to end – it is a moment that can either bring utter joy and elation or frustration and disappointment. Students this year had it especially tough; dealing with a pandemic, online school and now getting their much-anticipated results.
As a parent you want the best for your child and more importantly you want them to be happy. Therefore, dealing with results day is different for everyone. This blog post hopes to give you some helpful tips in dealing with what to do when your child did not get the results they wanted and where to go from there.
Put your child’s emotions first
Results Day is important to both you and your child. As a parent you might have your own expectations on what you want your child to achieve which can be different to theirs. If your child is happy with their result then you should celebrate with them, if they are disappointed it is important to empathise with them and reassure them that they did the best they could considering the circumstances. Don’t pester them to check their result; rather allow them to find out on their own and tell you when they are ready.
I clearly remember my results day almost 3 years ago now, and I was not happy with the results I got. Although it was lower than what my mother had wanted me to get, she did not show it, instead she comforted me while I cried and reassured me that I did well and achieved an impressive result.
Consider all options and have a plan in place
Talk to your child about how they feel about results day and what they want to do in a scenario where unfortunately they don’t get the results they want. If it is something they don’t want to talk about, do your own research on other subjects and courses you think your child might like (similar to the ones they have applied for) that are on clearing. If they do wish to consider it then formulate a plan with them on what to do and consider other available options. Encourage them to reach out to teachers for help, or any other support network that they are comfortable with. Here’s a quick guide to clearing (click here)
Various parents have said that what helped them get through results day was preparing a list of other courses in case Clearing was required. Some discussed alternative programmes which included foundation years instead of re-sitting and also looked in apprenticeships. We suggest you make a list of potential University Clearning numbers.
Remind them that these results do not define them
Results day for many, fall into two boxes: success or failure. This is not the case. While Results Day is a link to your child’s next step in education and they might not go down the path they want, it does not mean they can’t achieve what they want in the future. Reassure and encourage them that there are other options available, even if it might not be at their dream university, it is still an option. However, despite this avoid using phrases like “It’s not the end of the world,” because for them it could be. Instead, emphasise with them and use phrases such as, “I know you really wanted to get into this course but this University of XYZ also offers a similar programme which you can get in to.” For some, clearing gives students opportunities to go somewhere else which can end up being the best thing that’s ever happened.
Resources Available
The UCAS exam results helpline is for parents as well as teens, offering careers advice and support. Call them on 0371 468 0 468 for expert guidance.
Put your child in touch with The Mix, a support service for young people at themix.org.uk
Newcastle University Clearing and Adjustment https://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/applications-offers/clearing/
References
Information presented above was a combination of personal experiences and information from the following websites