It’s a nervous time for teenagers as they await their A-level and GCSE results but they have been assured that there are plenty of options in Nottingham – whether that’s education, training or employment.
Councillor Sam Webster, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business, Education and Skills, has wished students good luck as they prepare to pick-up A-level results tomorrow (17 August) and GCSEs next week (24 August).
He said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate pupils – plus teachers and parents – on their hard work, and wish them the very best for the future. They might be continuing their education, taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship, or entering employment for the first time.
“Whatever the outcome when those envelopes are opened, I’d like to reassure them and their parents that there are plenty of options here in Nottingham. Dedicated people will be on-hand to give all the advice they need.
“Schools will have members of staff available to talk through choices – whether someone has exceeded their expectations, had a change of heart about what to do next, or simply if the news wasn’t what they hoped for.
“Good luck to everyone who’s picking up their results over the next week or so – we’re really proud of your efforts.”
Students should be prepared to deal with all eventualities on the day. Things to remember:
- Take a mobile phone, pen and paper, your university or college offer (if you have one) and related paperwork, such as your personal statement and reference
- If pupils are unable to take up a place they have been offered, there is the chance to find a new course through the UCAS clearing system. There’s also the opportunity to re-sit exams if required
- Students who do not get the grades they hope for should get in touch with their school or college, which will be able to help them access support and advice to consider all the alternatives
- Advisers can help students consider their options and decide on the best way forward. That might involve resitting some, or all, of their exams or taking other qualifications
Councillor Webster added: “For some students there will be the fantastic news of having done better than expected, but there are also bound to be some who are disappointed that their results are not what they hoped for, or needed.
“We would advise students not to panic and jump into anything too quickly. Take the advice and support that’s on offer, do your research and consider your options before acting.”
The Nottingham Jobs Hub, a unique partnership between Nottingham City Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and Futures Advice, Skills and Employment, is a one-stop shop for advice and job vacancies and offers a range of programmes designed for school leavers. This includes traineeships, apprenticeships and other training schemes which allow young people to ‘earn as they learn’ in more than 170 industries. The Jobs Hub team offer training in a range of sectors such as construction, health and social care, business administration, hospitality and retail. They can be contacted on 0115 876 4508 or check out the latest job vacancies online at www.nottinghamjobs.com
For school leavers who are unsure about what to do next or what options are available to them, Futures Advice, Skills and Employment based on Maid Marian Way in Nottingham, is a service which can offer guidance and information specifically for 16, 17 and 18-year-olds. Expert careers advisers are available for people to drop in and speak to them from 1pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. Advisers will also be available via phone, text, email and Facebook from 9am to 6pm. All advisers will share regular updates about post-16 opportunities on their Facebook pages. Futures is jointly owned by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and offers help and support to both city and county residents.
For young people who are looking for work, Nottingham’s annual Jobs Fair returns for its seventh year on Wednesday 13 September. The biggest jobs fair in the East Midlands, this year’s free event in association with Nottingham-based engineering firm Imtech promises to be better than ever. The fair runs from 10am to 3pm at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham and offers something for everyone; free support for people facing barriers to work such as mental and physical health conditions and disabilities, around 100 employers and training providers with live job vacancies, the opportunity to apply and be interviewed on the day, plus general careers advice. Nottingham Jobs Fair is suitable for people of all ages and from across Nottingham and the local area. People can save time on the day by downloading a registration and more details from the website https://nottinghamjobs.com/events/detail/nottingham-jobs-fair-2017
Cllr Webster said: “The council is committed to helping schools improve and to driving up standards so that our children and young people have the chance to reach their full potential and over the next few days we’ll start to get a clear picture of how our young people have performed in their A-levels and, next week, their GCSEs.”
Nottingham Jobs
Website – www.nottinghamjobs.com/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/nottinghamjobs/
Twitter : @nottmjobs
Futures Advice Contact
Telephone: 0115 9601597
Email : info@futuresadvice.co.uk
Website : https://nottinghamjobs.com/job-seekers/Take-control-of-your-future-today
UCAS clearing website –
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/results/clearing-service-2016