STUDENTS across Pembrokeshire joined thousands throughout Wales today, celebrating the release of their GCSE, Welsh Baccalaureate, and vocational qualification results.

Formal GCSE exams were held this year, integrating various support mechanisms in response to the challenges imposed by the pandemic. These measures included providing advance information on exam content and adopting a supportive grading approach.

During his visit to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham, The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, expressed his admiration for the resilience and determination of the students. He said, “It’s inspiring to see what our learners have achieved. These learners have faced immense challenges impacting their learning opportunities as they’ve navigated through their secondary schooling and onto their GCSEs.”

He also took the opportunity to remind students who may feel disappointed with their results that there are numerous avenues open for their next steps, whether it’s A-levels, vocational training, apprenticeships or seeking advice from their schools.

Echoing these sentiments, Thomas Baden Tudor, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, expressed his admiration for Pembrokeshire’s students. In a heartfelt message from County Hall in Haverfordwest, he said, “Congratulations to all the students receiving their GCSE results today. Your outstanding efforts during these challenging times are commendable. Also, my heartfelt thanks go out to all the educators and staff who’ve guided these students on their journey.”

To help students with choices, Dr Nick Smith, Principal at Oxford Home Schooling, highlighted the various pathways available to students who might not have achieved their anticipated grades. He emphasised the plethora of opportunities available – from contacting course representatives at colleges to considering apprenticeships, work experiences, or even a gap year.

For those pondering over the next step in their academic journey, Dr Smith pointed out, “When it comes to A-levels, there are a myriad of subjects to choose from, and it’s even possible to pursue them independently from the comfort of your home.”

Commenting on the news that GCSE grades in Wales are down on last year, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister Laura Anne Jones MS said: “Congratulations to students receiving GCSE results today and the teachers and support staff who have worked exceedingly hard and faced severe disruption over the last couple of years. I would like to wish everyone the best of luck with whatever they choose to do next. There are an abundance of options available to you, including A-levels and apprenticeships.

“As was the case with A-levels, results are down on last year. It is also concerning that exam entries are down this year, particularly with Mathematics (down 0.3%), Mathematics-Numeracy, (down 8.3%) English Literature (down 29.1%) and ICT (down 15.5%). The drop in exam entries is particularly significant amongst children from a disadvantaged background, Labour need to explain how they will tackle the drop in exam entries of such important subjects, and ensure our children aren’t left behind.

“Ultimately, there is more to education than just exam results and Wales deserves better, Labour are failing our children with their underfunding and continue to cut the education budget. This has placed our schooling system bottom of the UK league table, with Wales continuing to take a different approach to our counterparts in England. With 25% of students missing 15 days or more of education, the Labour Government must get their act together and do better in providing top tier education in every school in Wales.”

As Pembrokeshire joins the rest of the nation in celebrating the hard work and tenacity of its young minds, the collective sentiment remains one of hope, resilience, and optimism for the future. The journey to today might have been paved with unique challenges, but it has only made the success stories all the more inspiring.

RESULTS DAY LIVE: Advice from international education specialist

This year has undoubtedly been challenging for everyone sitting their examinations, particularly after the last few years of disruptions caused from both the pandemic and industrial action. Many are saying it is too soon for exams to return to pre-covid levels with some students still recovering the learning they lost during the COVID-19 period. While pupils have been warned that their grades may not be as high as previous years, it’s hugely important for them to remember that they still managed to make it to this point! Sitting exams is no mean feat, and for many they are never a pleasant experience, but they still showed up and sat them regardless.

This year’s students have withstood one of the most chaotic educational periods in history. That accomplishment alone is remarkable, and the fact that they’re moving forward with their lives with exam results in hand, is something to celebrate.

I know that exam results may feel like the be all and end all right now, but for anyone who may be disappointed or disheartened by their results, here are my five top tips on how to deal with how you’re feeling and what positive steps you can now take.

Top tips:

• Don’t panic: If your results aren’t quite what you were hoping for, you are going to be upset, so don’t fight it; let yourself be upset for a little bit, and then start to think practically about your next steps and remind yourself what you’re working towards. Your results are likely to have been impacted by a number of things outside of your control, and you’re comparing them to the results of recent years which were marked using an entirely different system. You’ll never have a mark against your name because you’ve failed. You can still do well and succeed, even with having to re-sit a module or an exam.

• Talk about it: Make sure you talk through how you’re feeling with your loved ones so they can support you. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your teachers if your results aren’t what you were hoping for. They know how to navigate this situation and will have seen their pupils in this position many times. Discuss with them what your options are going forward and ask their opinion on where they believe your strengths lie, and how you can improve your results if you re-sit a module or exam.

• Ask for support: Beyond your teachers, consider reaching out to career advisors or pastoral support staff at your school. If you need additional help, especially for re-sits, seek assistance from tutors or other educators. Additionally, don’t hesitate to contact professionals in your desired industry to gain insights about their career paths and advice on how to succeed in your journey.

• Consider a plan B: Exam grades do not define success; there are many other ways to achieve your goals and aspirations. Remember that ‘clearing’ doesn’t have to be a negative thing– it can be your best friend if your results weren’t what you hoped for! Also keep in mind that while GCSEs may be a good route for those looking to go on to A Levels, they may not carry quite as much weight for students whose ambitions lie elsewhere. Students who are working towards skilled, hands-on or vocational careers may find more benefit in qualifications such as BTECs and apprenticeships.

• Evaluate your strengths and interests: Take some time to assess your strengths and to understand what truly motivates and interests you. If your exam results don’t match your aspirations, there may be other education or career opportunities that better utilize your skills and meet your interests. More than anything, don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone’s educational journey is different.