Every year, Results Day rolls around. For some, it’s a moment of celebration, relief, and pride - a life-changing step forward and a milestone in their social mobility experience.
But for others, it marks the start of a high-stress scramble through clearing. A process that’s overwhelming at the best of times, and feels impossible without the right support.
This is where the cracks show. Dedicated teachers want to help, but they’re often overstretched. Students want to succeed, but many are under-informed and under-supported.
This year, we want to change that.
From The Big State School Survey we know that:
01/ 92% of state-educated students cannot rely on alumni networks for advice or guidance.
That means they have no one - beyond their immediate networks of support - to advocate on their behalf.
02/ 33% didn’t feel they had the tools, knowledge, or support to choose the right university.
In an environment where teachers are under-resourced, overstretched, and pulled in multiple directions, some students are left without the knowledge or tools they need to make the right decisions about university.
03/ 51% had their decision to go to university questioned.
Many students are the first in their family to attend university – and the first to weigh up the costs and benefits. With growing financial pressures and little support, some have their decisions questioned, leading them to rule out options and jeopardise their future plans.
04/ 13% of students were told, outright, that university “wasn’t for people like them.”
That’s why we’re launching Back to State School
That’s why we’re launching Back to State School - a campaign calling on our network to return to their former (or local) state schools and offer practical, in-person support to students navigating these critical decisions.
Because no one should have to face a future-defining moment alone.
Here’s how it works:
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1/ Download our resource pack
Use the email template to reach out to the school you would like to support. This can be your former school or another local school.
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2/ Reach out to your state school
If the school accepts your offer, use our one-pagers to get up to speed on what happens on Results Day - including how the Clearing process works
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3/ Encourage others to get involved
Use our social media templates to share your results day story and encourage your network to take part.
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4/ Pay it forward and step up on the day
Whether that be supporting with clearing calls, discussing options, or just being a pair of spare hands for teachers to call on.