Thursday 25 August 2011

Gcse Results!!



Today is Gcse results day and it feels odd not being in a school trying to comfort a student with a box full of tissues because they didn't do as well as wanted to do. Or congratulating a pupil on their immense success. The truth is many of these young people still need to see someone even after they get their results. The thing I am wondering this morning is how many of these young people who haven't got what they wanted actual have a careers adviser to talk to this morning.   

Certain boroughs don't even have connexions centres anymore whats happening to these young people. I remember helping a young girl last year whose parents were told her school didn't even support her coming back to the school and so I needed to give her information about all the local colleges that she could apply to. If she hadn't come to see me she properly would of been claiming JS9 like so many other young people who aren't given proper guidance and support in their schools. Yes it is the responsibility of the young person but if schools don't support them what happens then. It seems in a time when careers advisers are short in numbers parents need to have some more knowledge about the options available to young people today. If schools don't provide this what happens then. 

I am sure all the connexions centres that are still open today will be immensely busy today and tomorrow with the added pressure of finding places. With the further knowledge that some courses in colleges have been completely scraped due to funding. Whatever the results today I hope young people have chosen the right courses for them and their future and seek advice about university this year if they want to go rather then next year. If they don't plan the road to university now they will potentially face more problems next year. The fees increase is not only going to deter people financially but young people will be competing with each other like life choice lottery.