Students across Lichfield and Burntwood will be waking up to their A-Level results this morning (August 18).

Many will be hoping to achieve the grades needed to secure the university place of their choice.

wish everyone receiving exam results every success in the future, whatever their next steps may be.

Cllr Ben Adams
Cllr Ben Adams

But for those who miss out, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for education, Cllr Ben Adams, said all was not lost.

“The majority of people will have achieved the grades they need to go on to university, but those who haven’t shouldn’t lose heart,” he said. “There are thousands of good university places on offer through the clearing process, and there will certainly be a course available that suits them.

“In Staffordshire, we want to be sure that students have access to the best education and are able to make real choices about whether their future is best served by pursuing an academic path or a vocational one. There is now more choice than ever for post-16 education, and we have been helping organisations to look their Post-16 offer to ensure it reflects the changing local economy.

“There is an increasing recognition of the need for even more apprenticeships, which the county council has been promoting for some time to meet the demands employers locally, and an increasing interest by universities in providing vocational qualifications and degree level apprenticeships.

“As a county — and indeed nationally — we should be matching young people’s aspirations with their skills and giving them the best chance to secure the job that they want in an ever competitive market. Then our young people will know that whatever path they choose, they will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue it.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.