If you have received your GCSE results, and you didn’t get the results you’d hoped for, or want to explore some options of what to do next, we’ve got some advice to help you make a decision!

Speak to your school or college 

Talk to your sixth form or college of choice as they might be flexible about their entry requirements, especially if you only narrowly missed your grades. Some colleges may let you retake a GCSE whilst you study at the college.

Resit your exams

You can resit maths GCSE and English GCSE exams in autumn of each year, usually around November.

If the results you got weren’t what you were expecting or hoping for, speak to your sixth form or college to decide when it’s the best time for you to resit any GCSE exam.

Think about a different path

Entry requirements can vary depending on what college or course you are looking at. Ask your school for advice on changing courses or speak to different colleges in the area who may have different entry requirements.

Consider an apprenticeship

If you’re 16 or older, you can do an apprenticeship. Apprentices earn while learning, gaining valuable on-the-job experience that can jumpstart your career, while you receive training at university or college.

You could also progress into a degree apprenticeship from an apprenticeship you start at 16.

There are plenty of apprenticeship opportunities across the country in a wide range of areas. You can look for an apprenticeship on the Gov.UK apprenticeship website or you can read Derby Jobs Weekly to learn about the latest career opportunities in Derby.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:

GCSE results are just the beginning, not the end. Whether you got the grades you were hoping for or need to explore new options, remember there are multiple paths to success. Stay open, seek advice, and trust that every setback is just a setup for your next opportunity.”

You can find more support and advice on the National Careers Service webpage.

There are lots of ways that you can find apprenticeship and development opportunities in Derby. Derby City Council, as part of the Derby Promise has launched a Derby Employment and Skills Hub to help you gain the confidence, support and skills to move into employment. The Hub, is based at the Council House and is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

You can also find all the latest opportunities in Derby advertised in the Derby Jobs Weekly Newsletter. This is a free weekly newsletter full of training, employment and apprenticeship opportunities.