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To have this opportunity torn away so close to the finish line is absolutely devastating. Only 8,173 estranged students – who, like myself, have no parental support or are supported by social services – are enrolled in university this academic year. Many of us have gone through our A Levels completely alone: revising during our breaks at work, applying for UCAS and receiving our offers without support or guidance on our personal statements. We don’t have a shoulder to cry on or someone to put the kettle on during a late-night study session. Who do we have now to help us fix our future prospects?
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are, on average, two years of learning behind their more affluent peers by the end of secondary school. We are twice as likely to be predicted an E at A Level – a lesson I have now learnt the hard way – and are often negatively impacted by a lack of personal support and consideration of the basic struggles that hurt our ability to succeed.
We had ourselves, our school, and our futures; after this A Level results fiasco, it now feels as though we only have ourselves.
I understand that it was going to be impossible to please everyone in Covid-era A-levels, but we must not sweep this under the rug: any system that grants a ‘U’ grade to a student who did not even have the chance to sit the exam is not fit for purpose. Because, while this may just be another cohort of results to those on the outside, the grades received by many this A-Level results day will seem like a life sentence for young people in my position.
I will be appealing what grades I am able to, although my options are limited due to the restrictive nature of this year’s appeal process: schools must lodge appeals on behalf of students; I can’t do it alone. But even if I am successful, there will be other students like me who won’t overcome the odds.
Because you read about a-level
Also by Samantha Smith
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