It's the day of reckoning...after months of waiting, students are finally finding out if the last two years of hard work paid off. It's a nerve-wracking experience to be handed the brown envelope containing what your future holds - and many of us will alway remember that day.
Of course, most teenagers will have logged onto UCAS in the morning, ahead of opening their results, so will have an idea what the future holds. But what about the teachers who have worked tirelessly to help students achieve their dreams? Well, unsurprisingly, it's as terrifying for them as it is the students.
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Former teacher Julie Carrigan, who now works as a skills quality manager at Acacia Training, says students should consider apprenticeships instead.
She said: "As a teacher results day is one of the most nerve wrecking experiences one can go through. You have been with the student over a long period of time, and through the teaching and learning, you know what a student is capable of.
"You have marked their work and given feedback, listened and watched them engage in the teaching and learning session, seen them gain confidence and belief in themselves and you have seen them develop in the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours over time.
"You watch them go into an exam with abetted breath as I, the teacher, can do no more. It’s now up to them! They leave the exam and then it’s a waiting game for results day.
"When the results are received, you just hope they have got what they deserve and are happy for those that have. But for those that don’t, it's my job to provide information, advice and guidance on what those next steps could be. This could be looking at the more vocational route of looking for an apprenticeship.
"There are so many apprenticeships available with the introduction of the standards than ever before and so this has greatly improved the routes that students can take, but also a big advantage of an apprenticeship is that an individual will be paid a wage rather than getting into a debt.
"Not only is this a benefit but the apprenticeship is designed around the role that they wish to undertake, and as such, focus on the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of that role, and very much tailored to both student and employer needs, meaning that everyone is a winner.
"I have been in FE since 2000 and the number of students I have taken through an apprenticeship is high, many of which never thought achievement would have been possible, which in turn has led them to see differently and go onto the next level of their chosen career.
"This is something that stays with me and why I would champion apprenticeships in this day and age.”
