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BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
'The culmination of a lot of hard work': Joy, relief and worry as students get A-level results
"This is the culmination of a lot of hard work," admits student Lily-Rose Williamson. "The sacrifices have paid off."She was one of thousands of teenagers who received their A-level, Btec and T-level results on Thursday, after a nerve-wracking wait for students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.A record number of 18-year-olds got into their first choice of university this year - even if they missed their grades - while boys outperformed girls for the top A-level grades for the first time since pupils picked up their results up and down the country, they chatted to BBC reporters about how they'd fared, what they hoped to do next - and how they were planning to celebrate. With three A*s in A-level maths, biology, and chemistry under her belt, Lily-Rose was ready for a big night out in Liverpool."I'm that really annoying person who really likes school," she aspiring surgeon secured her place to study medicine at the University of Oxford next year, fulfilling a dream she's had since she was 12. For Olivia Melville, a different kind of celebration was on the cards: "Going to Nando's."The 18-year old from Telford was delighted with a distinction in her health T-level - and said she'd had a "really good feeling" about her results.T-levels - vocational qualifications for 16-19-year-olds in England - grew in popularity this year, and Olivia said she'd had a "really good feeling" about her her distinction in tow, she planned to get onto a university midwifery course through clearing - a process run by The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) matching students with university and college courses which still have spaces. 'I could barely sleep' Others had mixed feelings about their results - and the prospect of their next steps - including Shaheer Shafqat and Heron Balisane from Manchester."I just went to get it over with, just straight onto my emails," said said he "wasn't disappointed" but "wasn't too happy" with his results in A-level media and Btecs in applied psychology and he still secured his first-choice place, studying cyber security at Manchester Metropolitan University."That's all that matters," he said. Heron likewise said he so nervous he could "barely sleep" on Wednesday night: "I was panicking."He said he was "expecting a bit more" from his results, but had still secured a place at the University of Greater Manchester to study students said they were expecting to work part-time jobs during university."The living costs are pretty high aren't they," remarked Shaheer. "It's worrisome." 'A lot of hard work paid off' For others, the pressure was off - with jobs and apprenticeships secured before the big day - including Harry pupil from Bangor, Northern Ireland is set to start an electronics apprenticeship with Red Bull's Formula 1 team in September."I knew I had the place before the exams so I could relax a bit more," he said, after receiving two As and a C."I don't know who will let me loose on an F1 car," he said."Time to celebrate - and watch the F1 movie." The day was a family affair for many - including identical twins Adrian and Łukasz Koman from south brothers insisted there was no competition in their house and celebrated their near-identical grades in the same science subjects - two A*s and one A for Adrian, and one A* and two As for said they were excited to start new chapters, heading from Newport to the universities of Bristol and Bath.Łukasz said: "We spend a lot of time together since we've shared the same room for all our lives pretty much."It's nice to go out there and be a bit more individual." Meanwhile, Megan from Cornwall brought her entire family with her to collect her said she "burst out crying" when she saw an A* and two As staring back at her - and her mum said she was "so pleased".But her brother couldn't shy away from some friendly sibling joked: "Unfortunately, she beat me."Others said the support of family and friends along the way had been crucial, including Meghan Cotty from had balanced her studies alongside helping to care for her brother, who has learning difficulties, and working part-time - and today received two A*s and a ahead, she was excited to head off to the University of Birmingham to study law."It's taken a lot of work and patience but I'm so glad it paid off," she said.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Students across the south look to future after opening results
Students across the south are figuring out their next steps after opening their exam been a big day for college and sixth form students across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Oxfordshire and 18-year-olds have received their A-level, T-level and BTec National results and are now looking to the comes after the head of Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) predicted a record number of students would get their first choice of university. Those attending Bournemouth School for Girls were allowed into their classroom at 08:00 BST, after queuing patiently outside the 10% of this year's cohort are taking a different route to university, instead choosing to do an apprenticeship or take a gap Cornish has decided to get a job as a primary school teaching assistant, before looking at higher education options."I'm going to a different classroom," she said, explaining it had been "a rough two years"."I've really struggled at school. I want to be able to help children who are a bit different."Meanwhile her friend Orelia Baker is off to Queens University Belfast to study medicine and wants to specialise in sexual and womens' health, she said: "It's a field I've always been interested in and so important." In Hampshire, students at Arnewood Sixth Form, New Milton were celebrating. A school spokesperson said 84% of students secured places at their first-choice university, or higher education of sixth form, Mark Colman, said: "These results reflect more than just academic success. Our students leave Arnewood as confident, compassionate young people ready to make their mark."The impact our Year 12 and 13s have across the wider school is something we're hugely proud of." Reading College said 28% of its students gained an A* or A grade in their A levels, but a lot of students were pursuing different director, Dan Neil, said: "We are seeing a higher proportion of learners going onto apprenticeships."Our own apprenticeship faculty is really valuable, sometimes students needs a bit of a break. I have some students today who are deferring their university places to go travelling for a year."Tawana Mandebvu, 19, said she is heading to Oxford Brookes University to study midwifery."It feels like all the hard work paid off. I'm happy I studied as much as I did and put in all my efforts. Hard efforts pay off," she explained. Ofqual stats for grades A and A* revealed Data from Ofqual revealed the percentage of A level entries graded A or A* across each county in comparison to with grades awarded to more than 2,500 students were the only ones to be included in the Hampshire, 29.4% of grades awarded were an A or A*, compared to 28.8% last Isle of Wight had a slightly bigger increase, with 2025 figures showing 17.6% compared to last year's 15.9%. However, it still has the lowest figure in Dorset, the number dropped to 24.8% after reaching 27.1% in Oxfordshire figures remained steady at 33.5%, compared to 33.4% last figures showed a slight increase of 32.7% in 2025, compared to 31.3% the previous year. The Isle of Wight may have the lowest percentage of A* and A grades for A levels, but students at Cowes Sixth Form College achieved high Glover secured a place studying engineering at the University of Cambridge, after achieving three A*s and one A. Meanwhile Blake Poerscout-Edgerton achieved three A*s, one A and gained an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), securing himself a scholarship at Emory University in Atlanta, Rachel Kitley said: "We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our sixth form students, they have worked hard and today celebrate their much-deserved success." There were lots of happy faces at Bartholomew School in Witney, Oxfordshire, after students gained top of sixth form, Helen von der Osten said: "We are delighted these results have enabled so many to secure their university places, apprenticeships, and other exciting next steps."Twins Florence and Alice Bolton were home schooled until they joined Headington Rye Oxford for sixth form. They are both now headed to the University of Cambridge, Florence to study Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic at St John's College and Alice to study music at Emmanuel College. Florence said: "I have really enjoyed my time here – I loved home education too so I feel like I have had the best of both worlds."Alice added: "We would have never been able to come to the school if we didn't have the generous bursaries that we got. It's meant we have had a very happy time the last two years." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Yorkshire students receive A-level results
Thousands of students across Yorkshire have received their A-level, T-level, BTec National and other Level 3 results - with more receiving the top A* grade than last were released across the UK at 08:00 BST, as the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said a record number of students had been accepted into their first choice Yorkshire and the Humber 25.3% of A-level entries were awarded A* - up from 24.6% in 2024. Among the schools and colleges to report strong results was Thirsk School and Sixth-Form College in North Yorkshire, where 83% of results were the equivalent of an A or A*. In South Yorkshire, Barnsley Sixth Form College said it had a 97% overall pass rate and a 100% pass rate in 22 Merry, Principal at York College, said: "For A-levels, our A*s, As and Bs have gone up by 6%, for vocational subjects our distinction grades have gone up by 11.5% so we have done really well. "Really hard work by students, really hard work by staff, but it has paid off."Victoria Lindberg, also from York College, said for those who were disappointed with their results, help was at hand. She said: "It can feel as though you are the first person it has ever happened to or you are the only person. "Reach out to your local college, reach out to your school, get support from your teachers and the support team as they have lots of experience of supporting people through the clearing process, which is so easy to use now." Among students celebrating at Barnsley College were Lola Ellis and Mitchell who studied Spanish, History and English Language and Literature, said: "I got an A in English, an A in History and a B in Spanish, I've got into the University of Manchester to do History and so that's my next step."She said she felt "absolutely horrific" before she opened her results, but was now looking forward to pursuing a career as a diplomat. Mitchell said: "I was quite confident that I had achieved what I needed to get into university, I needed BBC and I got ABB, so I'm really happy with that."He said he wanted to work in human rights, alongside refugees and fighting for women's rights. "I am going to do Spanish and International Relations at the University of Leeds," he said. At Leeds City College, Lita Leikarte studied a BTec Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animation. She was hoping for a triple distinction star (DDD*), which she achieved. It is the highest possible grade, equivalent to achieving three A* grades at A-Level. Lita said: "I have been studying animation. It is quite a big industry, there is so much you can learn. We have 2D, 3D, concept art, which I enjoy, backgrounds, the list just goes on and on."I've made so many great friends that I don't think I could have made if it wasn't at this college, the teachers are really supportive and the courses are fun." Parsa Nourouzzangani studied A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths, and received three A grades. "I am quite happy with it," he said."These letters do not fully represent me, but they are a start. "These grades do not mean I am better than anybody, it just shows people that it is possible to get these grades. "I would like to get into dentistry - hopefully in Leeds - and pursue from there." Prof Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, was among 85 people manning the phones at the university's clearing call centre in the Richmond said: "It's been really busy this morning, we weren't expecting it to be so busy."We've had a 20% increase in calls this year compared to last year during the 8am until 11am period."She said the increase might be down to a "a number of reasons" including the university offering professionally-accredited health courses such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and may have got better grades than they expected or changed their minds about which subject they want to study, she said. Raizana Razeen, President of Education for the University of Bradford's Students' Union, was also among those on the 25-year-old from Bolton recently graduated with a first class degree in nursing and spent part of her studies living at home, a trend which is becoming increasingly said: "I stayed back home for my first year because studying for a degree can be very stressful."Having that support network from your family members or close friends can be great for your mental well-being."The cost of living has increased over recent years which means students are more likely to stay back home to cut down the cost but also have that university experience as well." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Student 'burst out crying' at exam results in south west
Students across Devon and Cornwall have received their A-level, T-level, BTec National and other Level 3 said a record number of students were accepted into their first-choice university across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with 28.3% of all grades being marked at A* or A - up from 27.8% last College student Ben was among those who opened results on Thursday. He said his A in Biology, A* in Law and A in Psychology were "very good for my standards and for what I was expecting to get". Megan from Launceston College in Cornwall also received an A* and two As, and said she "burst out crying" when she opened her results. She said her chosen university had accepted her, but that she had now "applied for a different course": "I have to reapply through clearing now with these grades to get into biomedical science."Her mother said she was "so pleased for her, she's just done amazing", however her brother said "unfortunately she beat me". Charlotte Lancaster from Launceston College achieved four A*s, which she sad was "not necessarily what I was expecting".She said: "You do the exams and you've got that massive wait until results day, and then in your mind you go, 'oh, I've got an A or B', which are still great grades don't get me wrong."It's been a really long journey over two years, a lot of work - basically no free time." Natalia said her results were "definitely what I thought I would get" with a B and a C in product design and photography, and Phoebe got two A*s and an A: "I got the email from Ucas to say I got my place". 'A bit emotional' Billie Stokes, assistant principle at Exeter College, said seeing the students' "smiley faces" when they opened their results made it "all worthwhile".He said: "You've been with them for two years, you've seen their journey, how they've developed, you know how important it feels to them and to go to their next steps."It'll be a really, really happy and a bit emotional day as we also say goodbye to them."The University of Plymouth said its clearing admissions phone lines were open and students should take a moment to be proud about how far they had Chancellor Richard Davies said: "Students who've changed their minds or got better results or worse results than they expected, please give us a ring, see if we can change what your offer is. "We will give you an answer and we'll guarantee your accommodation, so please get in touch... there's lots of opportunity out there."
Sky News
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Is a degree worth it?
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 It's results time for 700,000 A-level and T-level students. It'll mean final decisions about their future - and whether university is the best option for their finances and their career. With the huge cost of a three or four-year course, squeezed graduate incomes and fast changes to the job market due to AI, is a degree worth it? Niall Paterson speaks to business and economics correspondent Paul Kelso about whether the cost of a degree outweighs its reward and just what has changed since Tony Blair vowed to get 50% of school-leavers going to university in 1999.
