As the collective class of 2022 gets set to receive the results of their GCSEs and other level 2 qualifications, Hampshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services is sending all students her congratulations in anticipation of their achievements.

Councillor Roz Chadd said: “While this year has seen a return to classroom based, face-to-face learning, I’m acutely aware that Hampshire’s pupils have had to cope with learning in challenging circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a return to sitting formal GCSE exams is an important milestone for education in the pandemic recovery. Whatever their results, I wish to congratulate Hampshire’s Year 11s and commend them for working so hard ahead of sitting these exams, after what has undoubtedly been a disruptive period in their learning.”

The County Council expects to have the full picture of GCSE and other level 2 qualification outcomes in October, when this data is first released by the Department for Education.

For the past two years, public examinations were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and pupils were therefore awarded results based on teacher assessments.

Councillor Chadd added: “It is important to understand that it is not possible, and would be wrong therefore, to make any direct comparisons with the results in previous years, in particular the last two years, as these have been based on an entirely different style of assessment. Hampshire schools are to be praised for working so tirelessly to ensure the county’s children and young people continue to benefit from a high-quality education under these challenging circumstances. Our thanks must also go to the schools and parents for all they do to help young people to achieve.”

Any young person who needs help or advice about their next options can contact Hampshire Futures – the County Council’s careers advice service for young people – which will be operating a telephone helpline on 0370 779 6122 and a web chat service on the Hampshire Futures Careers and information Service website. These services will be available between 9am and 4pm on Thursday 25, Friday 26, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 August.

Alternatively, students can email the Hampshire Futures team at [email protected].

They can also speak to their school’s Careers Advisor or visit the County Council’s Your Future website for further information and advice.

Students who may be feeling uncertain, anxious or stressed about the future as they move on to college, employment or training can seek support from Young Minds who will help to encourage them to look after their mental health and identify when to ask for help. Additional mental health and wellbeing resources for young people, including local support services and free message services, can be found on the Mental Wellbeing Hampshire website.