The results are in, and most students and teachers will heave a huge sigh of relief that they can start to ‘move on’ and leave the past two difficult years behind them. Even though the press is busy telling everyone that results are inflated (they are not – you cannot compare the grades awarded this year to previous ones in any meaningful way) there will still be a significant minority of students who are disappointed with their results. For this group the key thing will be to make sure that they move on to an appropriate route and are given the necessary support to thrive as they move forward.
Following on from what has undoubtedly been a stress filled two years some of our students will find moving on more challenging than others. Dr Tara Porter writes in the TES about how to support students who find themselves in this position over the coming weeks as they navigate their way to an unexpected route. She explains that teachers and parents need to be aware of four key areas when dealing with students who have been disappointed in their results: Feelings, Physiology, Thinking & Behaviour.
You will no doubt be reminding students that there is so much that they have achieved, experienced, and contributed to in their school communities that will be relevant to the futures they are aspiring to. This is something that was echoed by SSAT Relationship Manager, Kirsty Hewett when she reflected on her A level results day in a piece appropriately titled, “Exam results – A measure but not the measure of success.”
The class of 2021 have emerged from the past two difficult years with strong personal qualities, practical skills, and a strong sense of social justice that will be invaluable whatever they do next. In the stories you have shared with us about these young people over the year we have been struck by the levels of perseverance, resilience, and care for others that these young people show and how they are becoming agents of change in their schools and communities.
We wish them every success.
