Staffordshire University is urging prospective applicants to stay focused on their study goals in the wake of the latest national lockdown and the announcement that GCSE, AS Level and A Level examinations for summer 2021 have been cancelled.
The new restrictions, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the UK, mean that the majority of teaching and learning in schools, colleges and universities will be delivered virtually until at least mid-February.
Today (Wednesday 6 January 2021), Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson confirmed that GCSE, AS Level and A Level examinations would not go ahead this summer. Instead, the government intends to use a form of teacher-assessed grades, details of which will be released at a later date.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Alyssa Phillips, Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions at Staffordshire University, said: “This is an especially anxious time for young people, many of whom are working towards submitting their applications for university. We urge them to stay focused and we would like to reassure them that today’s news will not impact the application process. We are here to help.”
The deadline for university applications through UCAS has been extended to Friday 29 January 2021, although late applications will be accepted until Wednesday 30 June. Anyone looking for help and advice can visit our undergraduate webpages, which includes links to information on how to apply, study options, tips on personal statement writing, bookings for Staffordshire University Open Days, and our ‘Live Chat’ function.
Staffordshire University is committed to ensuring that prospective students of all ages and from all backgrounds are given opportunities to pursue higher education. We consider a range of factors when making offers, including results, previous work experience, personal qualities such as commitment and perseverance, and applicants’ enthusiasm for their chosen courses. Once enrolled, our students have access to a broad range of support services, including academic support and guidance, advice on physical health and mental wellbeing, financial assistance, and more.
Dr Phillips added: “This has been an immensely challenging year in education and we appreciate many prospective students may still be uncertain when it comes to their options. We want to help them to identify the courses that are right for them and best suit their individual circumstances.
“Even if you’ve only recently started to consider university as an option, our message is simple: contact our team to learn more about our exciting courses and to find out how we can help you. We do everything we can to build an overall picture of prospective students as individuals. At Staffordshire University, we don’t just look at grades; we see students’ potential.”
In addition to our work with partner schools and colleges, Staffordshire University is working with local businesses and Staffordshire County Council’s Redundancy Taskforce to support individuals dealing with redundancy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, helping them to retrain, upskill and prepare for jobs of the future.
We will also be taking part in our county’s first virtual jobs fair, hosted by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Stoke Staffs LEP) together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and PeoplePlus. Taking place on Thursday 14 January between 11am and 2pm, #StokeStaffsJobsFair will showcase career, education and training opportunities within the fields of health, care and construction – three major growth sectors in our area.
Mature learners can also find out more about our free 10-week Step Up to Higher Education course, which is perfect for students who want to develop the key academic skills needed for university-level study before returning to education. The course has been specifically developed for pre-degree learners who are interested in accessing our University’s undergraduate courses.