MORE than 900 students from the Island's five secondary schools will receive their GCSE results today (Thursday).
The results are the culmination of two years of study in the school years 10 and 11.
Last year the pass rate – grades A* to G – was a record high at 98.7 per cent and it is hoped that this will be repeated or bettered today.
Jan Gimbert, the school improvement advisor for 11-19 education, said: "What we find is that our results at GCSE, and A-Level, fluctuate up and down and it depends on the ability of the cohort going through. So we can't say if results will go up or go down but certainly if you look back over several years you will see the trend has been an increase in pass rate."
Last year 51 per cent of students chose to return to sixth form education and 25 per cent went on to study at the Isle of Man College. Students must secure five or more grades between A* and C to qualify to stay on at sixth form.
Jan continued: "Students do recognise that qualifications are important to give them choice.
"I think students now at 16 are much more aware that if they're going to have choice post 16, part of achieving that choice is having this passport qualification of five A* - C grades.
"I think it's a reflection of the world of work. The types of jobs available now to our school-leavers at 16 and at 18 require qualifications and require a way of showing that they have some skills.
"I think the big plus side of that is that if students are remaining in education they continue to develop skills which will open other doors for them and maybe will take them in a direction which is a bit different to where they would have ended up if they hadn't have done that."
Inevitably some students will be disappointed with the grades they receive but Jan says help is available to them and it is important for students not to write themselves off.
She explained: "If you don't do as well as you are expecting to do it can be devastating and that's where you do need to talk to people. You don't need to write yourself off in education either. We talk about life long learning and there are other routes through.
"Quite often when one door shuts, because maybe you haven't got the grades you were expecting, another door opens and actually it's a better option anyway. At 16 and 18 you have a sort of fixed view about where you want to be and what you want to do. But be flexible and consider everything as you move forward.
"Parents are good people to talk to as well. Parents provide a great deal of support for their children at this time and the message should be to stay calm and review the options that you've got.
"When they (the students) receive their results staff will give them advice if they need it within the schools. If they haven't quite got what they need to get back into the sixth form then the Isle of Man College is a good place to start because they might offer courses that will allow them to continue in education.
"Talk through what your options are and try and find a fit that works for you. I think that's the best advice you can give anyone - you've got to find what fits for you and what works for you."
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