Next Steps - What to do after results day

To those of you collecting results this week, A Level, GCSE, BTEC or otherwise, we want to first remind you to take a big deep breath and congratulate yourself – you did it!

Whether you got the grades you were hoping for or didn’t quite make it, you’ve still achieved something absolutely remarkable and completed an important part of your education in some of the most difficult circumstances in living memory. Once the dust has settled and the celebrations are over, however, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Exeter Works and the Youth Hub Devon are always here to help you figure out what your next step will be, offering unbiased advice to anyone who needs some guidance or support.

Figuring out what to do after you’ve finished school or college can be difficult: it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer range of options available to you. It’s therefore really important to explore all the options out there and remember to make the decision that’s right for you – it’s you who’s got to live with it after all. If you’re really unsure of what to do, you could even make a list of things you definitely do not want to do to help you narrow down your options: if you know that you hate writing essays, for example, then university may not be the right path for you; but on the other hand if you know you like working with your hands, then perhaps an apprenticeship in construction would really suit you. This is an important decision you’re making, and getting as much advice as you can from adults you trust will really help you work out what’s right for you. We recommend talking to the careers and futures team at your school or college for some practical advice, and also talking through your options with an unbiased party like the team here at Youth Hub Devon. Frankly, it doesn’t matter to us what your final grades were at all, we’re here to help regardless. All that matters to us is making sure we find the right fit for you, be it pointing you in the direction of further training, apprenticeships, or into full-time employment.

Whatever you’re considering as your next step, we’ve put together a list of useful resources and websites to help you make the right decision for you. If you would like some personalised and impartial advice about training, apprenticeships, or the world of work, send an email to youthhub@devon.gov.uk to make an appointment with one of our trained advisers.

Useful Links

For advice for all current and future Exeter College students:
https://exe-coll.ac.uk/results-days-2021-faqs/

For advice on apprenticeships in the Exeter area:
https://exe-coll.ac.uk/apprenticeships/

For advice on what to do after your exam results:
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/secondary/learning-school/what-s-next-after-exams/

For tips on what to do with your results:
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/results-what-next

A Level Results

For everything you need to know about A Level results day:
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/results/results-what-you-need-know

For advice on what to do after A Level results day:
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/results/after-you-get-your-exam-results

For advice on what to do if you didn’t get the A Level grades you wanted:
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-08-09/a-level-results-day-2021-advice-tips-and-useful-information-for-students

For comprehensive advice on dealing with your A Level results:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying-for-university/getting-into-university/what-to-do-on-a-level-results-day

GCSE Results

For everything you need to know about GCSE results day:
https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/gcse-choices-university/gcse-results-day-2015-what-to-expect