00:00Hello and welcome to Manchester World. My name is Theo Hewson Betts and the weather has been pretty nice today,
00:04which is hopefully a reflection on the bright and cheery day that many of Greater Manchester's A-level students have had
00:08because it's A-level results day, which means that 18-year-olds across the country will be finding out what lies in store for them over the next few years.
00:17Now, this is obviously a big day and it doesn't have to define you.
00:20If you've not quite got the results you wanted, it's not the end of the world.
00:23In this video, we're going to have a look at what it means to go through university clearing,
00:26have a look at some alternatives to university as well, and we're also going to talk about how Greater Manchester performed
00:31compared to other parts of the country. But let's start with clearing and how it works.
00:36Now, prospective university students will have gone into today with conditional offers from their first and second choice unis,
00:41meaning they have to hit certain grades to be accepted onto the course they want.
00:45That can sometimes be difficult to achieve and it's not uncommon at all for people to have to try and find universities
00:50that will accept them through clearing if they don't quite reach the grades.
00:53Now, basically, if you want to go through clearing, there are a few steps to follow.
00:56The first and most important is to call your first choice uni if you've only just missed out
01:00and just clarify that you definitely won't be able to attend.
01:03There are cases every year where people are sort of allowed to sneak through the gaps.
01:06If that doesn't work, definitely firstly talk to an advisor or teacher at your school
01:09and then you need to find out what courses are available, which you can do through the UCAS website.
01:14You could have a look at different courses at the same uni or try and look at different universities
01:17to try and find some different options.
01:19The next step will be to contact the universities in question.
01:22You'll need your clearing number, which can be found on your application for this.
01:25You need to ask if they'd accept you with the grades that you've attained
01:27and it's probably worth calling a few to get informal offers so you can make a decision.
01:31Then, once you've done that, chase up about accommodation and stuff like that
01:34and just make sure you're happy with your choice.
01:36Then, finally, you simply add the clearing choice to your application over on the UCAS website
01:40and wait for it to be confirmed by the uni.
01:42Now, if today has made you think that maybe uni isn't for you, that's completely okay.
01:45There are lots of great alternative options that are worth assessing.
01:49Apprenticeships, for instance, give you the chance to earn money while you're learning a trade.
01:52You end up with a qualification and it ensures that you'll be a bit richer than your pals for a bit too.
01:57Gap years can be really beneficial as well if you're not sure what you want to pursue yet.
02:00Taking some time to work and travel can really give you a great perspective on life
02:04and help you understand where to go next.
02:06There are also some great school leaving programmes and study abroad options,
02:10so don't feel ashamed if you're not ready for uni or have decided that it's not for you.
02:14You're not alone.
02:14Finally, let's have a quick look at how students in Greater Manchester have done compared to the rest of the country.
02:19Now, some of the highest counties in England have around 41% of their entries earning a grade A or above,
02:24with Rutland coming out top.
02:26Greater Manchester recorded 28.1% of their entries at an A or higher, which isn't bad at all,
02:31but what's really impressive is that it's a rise of 2% on last year's figures,
02:34making it the UK's most improved county this year.
02:37So, a successful day for all, and I promise you, even if it doesn't feel like it now,
02:40this day serves purely to offer you a path into the future.
02:43There's no harm in taking a different one or deciding to faff around in the wilderness a bit longer.
02:48But that's all for now.
02:49Follow Manchester World for more, and we'll see you again soon.
