Results day – what happens next? A guide to Clearing for parents and carers.

Results day doesn’t always go exactly to plan. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Two women working together on a laptop in a cozy indoor setting with a smartphone nearby

Your young person might get the results they’ve been hoping for. They might do even better than expected. They might have changed their mind about what or where they want to study. Or they might not get the grades they were expecting.

Whatever happens, there are options and that’s where Clearing comes in.

Clearing isn’t simply a way to find a university place if things haven’t gone to plan. It’s also an opportunity to explore what’s available if your young person has done better than expected, changed their mind or simply wants to take another look at their options.

So, how can you help?

First, celebrate the results

Whatever the results, take a moment to recognise the work that has gone into getting there.

If your young person has done better than expected, that’s fantastic. They may now have the opportunity to explore courses or universities they hadn’t previously considered.

If the results aren’t what they hoped for, try not to panic. There may still be plenty of routes into higher education.

Let them lead

As a parent or carer, it’s completely natural to want to jump in and sort everything out.

But this is their next step.

Be there to listen, help them stay calm and look at the options, but let them make the decisions and speak to universities themselves.

Explore the possibilities

There are lots of reasons a student might use Clearing.  They might:

  • Have done better than expected and want to explore their options
  • Have changed their mind about their course or university
  • Not have received the grades they needed for their original choices
  • Have decided to apply to university after all
  • Simply want to see what’s available.

Clearing can be a chance to find a course and university that feels like the right fit.

Thinking about Reaseheath College and University Centre?

If your young person is considering Reaseheath, our Admissions Team is here to help.

We can talk through the courses available, entry requirements and what happens next.

It’s worth having their results and UCAS details to hand when they get in touch.

And if they are offered a place through Clearing, remember to speak to the university before adding the choice to UCAS.

Don’t feel you have to have everything figured all at once

Results day can feel like a huge moment, particularly when you’re watching your young person navigate it.

But one set of results doesn’t define their future. For some students, results day will confirm the plan they’ve been working towards.

For others, it might open the door to something they hadn’t considered.

The important thing is to look at what’s possible.

So, celebrate the successes, support them through the unexpected and, if Clearing becomes part of the journey, take it one step at a time.

There is more than one route to where they’re going.

Find out more about Clearing

See what courses are available at Reaseheath

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