This article was written by Damian and published in this week's Herald and Petersfield Post editions:
"Young people in East Hampshire and across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will once again be receiving A level results this week. It will be the first time grades will be based on exam results since 2019.
The grading approach will recognise the serious disruption that has been faced by this cohort of pupils. Overall grades are expected to be lower than in the last two years, but still above the 2019 level.
The Government has said universities will “adjust accordingly”.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) shows a record 667,000 students have applied this year, due in part to an increase in the number of 18-year-olds in the population.
UCAS still expects the majority of students to secure a place at their firm choice this year, but there will be disappointment for others, particularly following larger intakes during both 2020 and 2021.
Some popular universities and courses will be particularly competitive, but the UCAS clearing process is there to help students find alternative places, and to secure the opportunities offered by a higher education course.
The end of secondary school is of course a significant moment for students, marking the end of full time school and the start of a new stage of life.
For those going onto university, there will be a greater specialisation in learning, possibly with a particular career path in mind, but also a greater experience of independence.
But this is not the only option. Others will choose to pursue apprenticeships, combining work experience with classroom study, or even a traineeship.
For some, moving into the world of employment will be the priority, with a record number of job vacancies on offer across a wide range of sectors.
And this week will also see T Level results for the first time, as the first cohort of students complete the first two year courses.
As the range of T Level courses continues to expand, the combination of practical and knowledge-based classroom learning with on-the-job work placements, offers a real alternative for those completing their GCSEs and who might be less sure about a purely academic route.
Alton College was one of the first colleges to be selected to introduce T Levels back in 2020, and as part of HSDC, will see new courses starting in September this year.
Working with local businesses to provide appropriate placements for the students remains important, and I would encourage local enterprises to consider the great opportunity and benefit this can offer.
The past two years has been anything but normal, and that of course has substantively affected the whole education sector.
From nurseries right through to higher education, the impact of the pandemic on pupils and staff has been profound, but it is right that we now revert to exam-based grading.
I would like to thank all the teachers and support staff who have worked so hard to help students throughout this difficult time, and to the pupils and students themselves for the hard work they have put in ahead of these exams.
It is certainly a moment to celebrate what has been achieved, and to look forward to the new possibilities that lie ahead."
