A MALVERN headteacher has shared his top tips for helping teenagers cope as they pick up their A-level results.

Malvern College headmaster Keith Metcalfe said that for those for whom things may not quite go to plan, there are plenty of options available.

“One of the key things to remember is that although the grading system is returning to the pre-pandemic system, there is still a certain degree of protection built into the overall national results due to the impacts of COVID,” he said.

“This doesn’t apply on an individual level, so students shouldn’t expect a huge boost to grades, but there is still a certain level of tolerance there. 

“Despite those assurances, it’s only natural for young people to feel anxious - after all this is a big step. But there are a few things that parents can do to ease some of those concerns; starting with making sure your child has a plan B, or at least a willingness to consider that there might have to be one.

“One of the values we try to instill in our pupils at Malvern is resilience. Navigating challenging times like, for example, not achieving the grades that you expect is an important part of life - sometimes things simply don’t go to plan - but finding a way through this builds resilience.”

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Mr Metcalfe said having a contingency plan and being open-minded helps students to recognise there are alternatives to the route they might have originally chosen. 

“Whether that’s exploring work based apprenticeships, taking a gap year and considering re-applying with known grades or simply considering a different course from the one they may have initially applied for, there’s actually a lot of flexibility whether they achieve their predicted grades or not,” he said. “Going into results day aware of all the alternatives can really help to alleviate any worries.

“Take Clearing for example - there’s still the misconception that the clearing system only offers places on second rate courses or at universities lower down the league table, but that’s simply not the case.

“Almost every university from the Russell Group to the smaller institutions will offer places through clearing.”

And Mr Metcalfe’s biggest piece of advice for parents?

“Although we want to support our children as much as possible, it’s ultimately their choice and while we can guide them, the best thing to do is to empower them with all of the information and all of the options they need to feel comfortable about the decision they make.”