Help at hand for Hertfordshire teenagers anxiously awaiting A-level results

Teenagers anxiously awaiting their A-level results have been assured that there is plenty of opportunity in Hertfordshire, and help is at hand.

Students – who have been advised to come prepared for all eventualities on the day – will be opening envelopes and considering their futures on Thursday morning, with GCSE results set to come out the week after.

David Williams, who is cabinet member for education at Herts County Council, said: “I’d like to wish Hertfordshire’s students the very best, and hope that you are not feeling too anxious or stressed.

“I’m confident that your hard work and that of your teachers at our excellent schools across the county will have paid off and the results will again show that Hertfordshire performs above the national average.

“Whatever the outcome when those envelopes were opened, I’d like to reassure you and your parents that there are plenty of options available.

“Dedicated people will be on-hand to give you all the advice you need. Schools will have members of staff available to talk through your choices – whether you’ve exceeded your expectations, had a change of heart about what to do next or if the news isn’t what you hoped.”

Matt Hamnett, who is principal of North Herts College, said: “This time of year is exciting as it gives us an amazing opportunity to have a good conversation with students about preparing for their future.

“It’s important to help students get to where they want to be in life and it’s important for young people to think about where they want to be in five or six years time, and the route they are going to take to get there.

“Students need to look at all their options and decide whether they want to look at an academic pursuit, a more occupational role or an apprenticeship.

“Some students won’t do as well as they had hoped and some of them will have done slightly better than they had hoped but there are a variety of different routes available to everyone.

“It is essential when applying to universities and courses to make sure that you know what the requirements are and how you can go about meeting them before applying.

“Here at the college we want to help people enter the world of work, and to succeed with the right attitude and behaviour.”

Mr Hamnett, who was appointed as principal in March, is determined to raise the level of the college so that the students and the community can reap the benefits.

“Getting an outstanding Ofsted report is the ultimate goal here at the college and we will work hard to get there,” he said.

“We want to be an institution that helps our customers, whether they are students doing their GCSEs, A-levels, whether they are adults or businesses – we want them all to achieve their goals and we have incredible expertise at the college for them to do just that.

“We also play a vital role in the community.

“Our students are treated as adults and the quality of teaching is very strong.”

For information and advice on what to do next visit www.youthconnexions.org.