GCSE results day: quick tips for parents

Advice for GCSE results day 2024

As GCSE results day 2024 approaches, many parents may find themselves pretty stressed or worried about how to best support their teen on this important day. 

Understanding the process and knowing how to provide the right support can make this day much easier for everyone involved, so here are some quick tips for any parents navigating GCSE results day 2024.

Understanding GCSE results

When GCSE results day arrives, students will receive their results – these can be pretty important for choosing next steps in terms of courses or even entry into sixth form or college. 

Here are the key points to keep in mind:

• Grades format: GCSE results are reported as grades from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest and 1 the lowest
• Future implications: these grades can determine eligibility for further education options such as college, sixth form, or specific A-level courses. This doesn’t mean they’re the be all and end all though, so read on to find out more about receiving unexpected results.

Getting ready for GCSE results day 2024

Being well-prepared can help ease the tension of results day. Here are a few things to consider:

• Mark the date: GCSE results day 2024 is on the 22nd of August. Encourage your teen to keep this in their calendar too – if they haven’t already – so they can start preparing as well
• Know the process: results are usually distributed by schools in the morning, and many students can also access their results online. It’s best to find out ahead of time from your teen or the school how best to get these (and also about parking if it’s set to be a busy day and you’re driving in!)

On GCSE results day

When the big day arrives, being supportive and composed can be super helpful. Here are some suggestions for offering support:

• Be there for them: if you can, being with your teen when they collect their results can offer much-needed emotional support. If you’re unavailable, see if a trusted family member or friend can step in
• Stay relaxed, as much as possible: regardless of the results, staying calm can help your teen manage their emotions more effectively as you’re leading by example and being a comforting presence

Steps to take after receiving GCSE results

Once your teen has their GCSE results, here are some steps that might be helpful:

• Celebrate their success: taking time to acknowledge and celebrate their efforts and achievements can mean a lot to them – even if not everything is perfect, which it rarely is, focus for a bit on the positives
• Keep things optimistic: helping them understand that GCSEs are just one step in their educational journey can be reassuring – remind them that there are many paths to success. If you have a personal, relatable story to share about your own results this can be helpful too!
• Plan next steps: depending on their results, discussing and solidifying the next steps, whether it’s enrolling in a sixth form, applying for college, or noting down which A level subjects they want to go for can be good – but often there isn’t a rush for A level subjects so don’t panic here!

What to do with unexpected results

If the results are not what you or your teen expected, it can be a challenging time. Here’s how you might consider approaching the situation:

• Listen and support: allowing your teen to express their feelings freely without judgement can be very reassuring
• Reassure and encourage: reminding them that one set of results doesn’t define their future and encouraging them to be proactive about finding solutions can help them stay positive
• Explore alternatives: discussing options like resits, different courses, or looking into other schools/colleges if needed can help them to feel better about the situation
• Reach out to schools or colleges: if your teen’s grades are close to what’s needed to get into a particular place to take their A levels, contacting them directly might end up getting them a place anyway
• Seek professional advice: teachers and career advisors can give you and your teen really valuable guidance – do encourage your teen to speak with them to help them get expert advice on their next steps. You don’t have to take this on alone 

Hopefully this helps you with any questions you have about GCSE results day 2024.

Why not support your teen with luna premium?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).