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Student advice line gets geared up for a record breaking number of calls

The Exam Results Helpline advisers are well prepared for an unprecedented number of calls this year due to a record number of students applying to universities. Last year alone, the helpline offered expert information and advice to almost 10,000 students during their exam results period - a 26% increase on 2008.

An annual initiative, the helpline provides free, on-the-spot information and advice to GCSE and A level students as well as Standards and Highers (in Scotland) who do not receive the results they expect and more importantly don't know what to do next. Whether it is questions about grades, offers, courses and qualifications or advice about student finance, gap years or moving away from home, qualified advisers will be on-hand to offer impartial information and advice to students over the exam results period. They can be reached on 0808 100 8000.

Gill Sharp, freelance Careers Consultant and Exam Results Helpline Adviser comments:

'This is often an extremely pressurised time for both students and parents. Our advisers are there to help with impartial information and advice that will help individuals make the best choices for themselves, taking into account all the different circumstances in the present and what they hope to achieve in the future.'

Delivered and provided by Skills Development Scotland (for students in Scotland) and delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education (for students in the rest of the UK)*, the helpline operates during the exam results period only - this year, running from 4 - 28 August. It is the only careers helpline with access to UCAS applicants' information and higher education qualification details, so advice is timely and accurate.

Mark Tengende called the Exam Results Helpline after not getting the grades he needed to study a diagnostic radiography degree at St. Georges, University of London, last year. Taking the advice given, he applied through Clearing and will soon be starting the second year of his nursing degree. He says:

'I was so focused on diagnostic radiography that I hadn't even thought about any other courses at all. I had no idea about alternative subjects and options that I had until I spoke to the helpline and that really opened doors for me.'

Christopher Watson didn't get the grades he needed to do a sports science degree at Northumbria University last year. After discussing his options with the Exam Results Helpline, he re-sat his A levels and secured a place on the degree course for this year. He is awaiting his results and plans to start his degree in September. Karen Watson, Christopher's mum says:

'It was an upsetting time for both of us as we felt we'd come up against a brick wall with nowhere to go. We called the helpline and the gentleman was extremely sympathetic and helpful. We talked about various options and we were re-assured that it wasn't the end of the road. He informed us about other government bodies that could possibly assist and reminded us not to forget about the option of going back to school and re-taking exams. It was because of this advice that Christopher was able to proceed with his education.'

Media contact:

Sophie Chamings
Exam Results Helpline Press Officer (based at UCAS)
01242 544 944
S.Chamings@ucas.ac.uk

Notes to editors

*The Exam Results Helpline is provided and delivered by Skills Development Scotland from 4 - 28 August to offer information and advice to students in Scotland receiving their Highers and Standards results. It is delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education from 18 - 28 August for students in the rest of the UK receiving A level and GCSE results.

What is the Exam Results Helpline (ERH)?

The Exam Results Helpline is an annual initiative providing free, on-the-spot information and advice to GCSE, A level, Standards and Highers students in the significant days after they receive their results. Delivered and provided by Skills Development Scotland for students in Scotland, and delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education for students in the rest of the UK, the service operates in the exam results period only - this year, opening from 4 - 28 August.

Advisers are fully trained with at least five years' experience working in a careers based role and a relevant qualification. They offer impartial advice to students wanting to continue into higher education as well as those who want to pursue different routes such as re-training, taking gap years and moving out of home. The Exam Results Helpline number is 0808 100 8000. Calls are free from landlines and select mobile networks.

Areas covered by the Exam Results Helpline:

  • specific questions about grades and offers
  • the Confirmation and Clearing process
  • the Adjustment period
  • alternative routes into university, eg foundation courses, re-sitting exams
  • student finance
  • moving away from home
  • taking a gap year
  • qualifications
  • vocational learning routes including diplomas, apprenticeships and NVQs
  • setting up a business or becoming self employed.
 

What is the difference between the ERH and the UCAS Customer Service Unit helpline?

The Exam Results Helpline runs alongside the UCAS Customer Service Unit helpline. The ERH provides advice and information to students who do not receive their expected grades and want to make alternative plans for their futures. Advice offered is both personal and practical and covers a broad range of topics including education, training and alternative options. The ERH opens once a year - over the results period in August. The UCAS Customer Service Unit helpline offers specific advice to applicants about their individual university applications. It is open all year round.

The Exam Results Helpline opening hours:

Date Opening hours
04 August1400:2200
05 August0800:2000
06 August0800:2000
07 August0900:1700
08 August0900:1700
09 August0900:1800
10 August0900:1800
11 August0900:1800
12 August0900:1800
13 August0900:1800
14 August0900:1700
15 August0900:1700
16 August0900:1800
17 August0900:1800
18 August0900:1800
19 August0800:2000
20 August0900:1900
21 August0900:1700
22 August0900:1700
23 August0900:1800
24 August0900:1900
25 August0900:1800
26 August0900:1800
27 August0900:1700
28 August0900:1200
 

About the Department for Education

The Department for Education was formed on 12 May 2010 and is responsible for education and children's services. The Secretary of State for Education is Michael Gove. For more information, visit www.education.gov.uk.

About UCAS

UCAS is a charity and is the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications for full-time undergraduate courses, together with applications through GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) and UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service). Since its inception in 1993, UCAS has processed around 30 million applications and placed over 5 million students on higher education courses.

Services include:

  • An informative website (www.ucas.com) enabling students and parents to access a wealth of information designed to help their application to higher education run smoothly.
  • A state-of-the-art contact centre (0871 468 0 468) providing a point of contact for students, schools and higher education institutions.
  • An online application system. A simple, straightforward tracking service enabling students and school or college advisers to access up-to-date information about their applications at the click of a button.
  • Over 50 higher education events each year providing 250,000 students with face-to-face advice on the UCAS process. Internationally, we participated in events in over 12 countries and also provided training and professional development throughout Europe and beyond.
  • www.yougofurther.co.uk is UCAS' student network. It allows future and present applicants to interact with each other and provides further advice on higher education.
 

For more information, visit www.ucas.com

About Skills Development Scotland

Skills Development Scotland's aim is to act as a catalyst for real and positive change in Scotland's skills performance, by linking skills supply and demand more effectively and helping people and organisations learn, develop and utilise these skills to greater effect.

Since its formation in 2008, SDS has developed new partnerships - at local and national level - with, amongst others, local authorities, the Scottish Funding Council, colleges (through a new Colleges Forum), the NHS, schools and a wide range of industry and enterprise bodies.

Under the guidance of Chief Executive Damien Yeates and Chair Willy Roe, SDS's 1400 staff have worked to ensure Scotland's workers - particularly its young people - are equipped with the skills they need to succeed and its businesses employ the highly skilled personnel required to allow them to grow and contribute to Scotland's economic recovery.

For more information, visit www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

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