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3. Clearing and results day advice for teachers

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3. Results day and Clearing

Make sure students know what to say on their call, or even have a shortlist of possible unis

Go through what students need to know about calling Clearing hotlines before results day. This will alleviate any stress on the day. Practice conducting phone interviews with students, and make sure they're prepared for their Clearing call.

What to do as a teacher on results day 

Arrive early as unis will start early

Universities can begin accessing student results a few days before results day in confidence and under a strict embargo. Universities can then start to respond to any conditional offers, but this will remain confidential until UCAS begins to update student offers from 8.00am on results day.

Some students will have to wait longer than others to have their UCAS Hub account updated. Arrive at school or college before 8.00am to ensure you鈥檙e prepared for the day (if you鈥檙e allowed to come in).

Usually, students can pick their results up from then onwards and can log in online, so expect some students to be in school/college that early too.

Act as a comforter and bring solutions and options

Students will have many questions once they get their results. Offer words of encouragement to disappointed students and advise them on their options for next steps. No student should end results day confused about what to do.

Help students make decisions, don鈥檛 make them for them

Advise students on their options without telling them what they should do. Ultimately students have to decide on next steps for themselves. The best approach for any teacher is to lay out what options a student has and then support them through the process of what to do next.

Set up a safe space for chats and phone calls

Students may want advice in private. Ensure there is a place on the day, such as an empty classroom, where students can chat to you 1-to-1 in person or online. Some students will want to start calling Clearing hotlines as soon as they check their results, so make sure there鈥檚 a quiet space where they can do so.

Talk to parents and assure them too

Parents will also have many questions on results day. They鈥檒l want to know what their child鈥檚 options are, how to take next steps and what you鈥檇 advise. Be prepared to answer these parent queries and to reassure them about all the varying options available.

What to do as a teacher after results day

Check in with students who didn鈥檛 get the grades/changed their minds

There鈥檒l be students who didn鈥檛 get the grades they expected. They鈥檒l be disappointed and confused about what to do next. Some may wish to appeal their grades and you'll need to follow the process for this and manage expectations.

We understand that results day can be a stressful time for students, especially for those who may not get the grades they were hoping for. It's important for teachers to be there to support their students during this time and to help them understand and consider all their options. Dan Barcroft, Director of Admissions at the University of Sheffield

Check in to see how they鈥檙e doing, what they need help with and advise them on how to enter Clearing if that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e considering.

Other students will change their minds about a course they鈥檝e applied for once they receive their grades. They may have gotten better grades than expected and choose to go for a course with higher entry requirements or have had a change of heart about what or where to study. Make yourself available on results day and the days that follow to support them.

If a student is thinking about entering Clearing, teachers can help them by researching courses that are available, by providing advice on how to write a personal statement and what questions to ask on the phone, and by reminding students that many people go through clearing every year and it is a great way to find a course that is right for them. For students who have achieved better results than they were expecting, clearing may even be an opportunity to trade-up to another university, so be on hand to offer advice. Dan Barcroft, Director of Admissions at the University of Sheffield

Follow up with those upset, or who might want to do retakes or appeal

Remind students that they have options regardless of what grades they achieved.

Make sure they're aware they can appeal their grades. All exam boards across the UK will have an appeal process. It typically involves a student making an appeal to their school if they feel they were graded unfairly. If still unhappy, the student can take this appeal one step further to their respective exam board.

Students will also have the option to sit exams in autumn, or in summer the following year.

It鈥檚 important to remember that university is about more than just a degree. Today鈥檚 students value a university that aligns with their personal goals, interests, and values, as the university experience goes well beyond the lecture theatre. So whether it鈥檚 a vibrant campus community, cutting-edge research opportunities, or strong student support services, helping students find a university that feels like the right fit is crucial. Teachers can also play a vital role in helping students who are considering retakes or appeals. Dan Barcroft, Director of Admissions at the University of Sheffield