Disappointed with your GCSE results?

The 2025 GCSE results will be released on Thursday 21 August. If you didn’t get the GCSE grades you were hoping for, you may feel both upset and overwhelmed about what to do next. This guide provides students and parents with practical information to help you get through this initially challenging time, and on a pathway to success.

1.  Don’t panic. It’s okay to be disappointed and sad, especially if you worked hard and your friends have got the grades they wanted. The important thing to remember is that this is not the end, it’s just a bump in the road. There are many options available to you, and your teachers are there to provide support and advice.

2.  If a grade seems wrong, talk to your teachers about applying for a remark, especially if the mark was close to the grade boundary. There are costs associated with this process and there is no guarantee your mark will go up, and could even go down. Your teachers are best placed to advise you on this course of action, but it could make a significant difference. If you do decide to go for a remark, apply as soon as possible, ideally on results day.

3.  Decide what you want to do next and make a plan:

1. You may want to stick with your original plan for Sixth Form or college – this may be possible (speak to Admissions) if you can retake specific GCSEs at the same time as starting 16+ qualifications. Resits for maths and English can be taken in November and you’ll receive the results in January.
   
   
2. Consider different courses – you could study different A Levels, or take BTEC courses rather than A Levels, as these tend to have a practical focus and emphasize continuous assessment and coursework rather than exams. Level 3 BTECs are equivalent to A Levels and just as well regarded by universities. Some schools and colleges offer a mixture of A Levels and BTECs.
   
   
3. If your grades didn’t meet the entry criteria for the Sixth Form or college you were expecting to attend, you may want to apply elsewhere. While this can seem challenging in the summer holiday, some schools and colleges will still be open and happy to discuss options with you. You should immediately contact the Admissions team and arrange a visit as soon as possible.
   
   
4. If you weren’t happy with any of your grades, you could resit Year 11 at an independent school. While this could open more future pathways for you, there will be an emotional toll for repeating a year and not progressing with your friends, financial implications for parents, and there is the chance that your grades will not improve.
   
   
5. Consider other pathways. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with academic study at college. Entry requirements vary depending on the employer, training provider and level of the apprenticeship, and many require English and maths GCSEs. If you don’t have qualifications in English and maths, some apprenticeships include extra training in the English or maths skills needed so you’re at the right level.

4.  Keep positive. Things didn’t go to plan, but you still have options and pathways open to you. Remember, exam results don’t define you. You are not alone and you’re not the only student going through this. Your teachers and parents are by your side providing the support you need to achieve your next step, and there’s plenty of help and advice available online and on the phone. No matter what grades you get, it’s still possible to have the future you want. There are so many paths to where you want to be - your route might change, but your destination doesn’t have to.

How Lichfield Cathedral School can help you

At LCS, we offer personalised academic and pastoral support to help you thrive - especially if you're starting A Levels or BTECs while resitting GCSEs.

✅ Top 10% nationally for student progress
✅ Academic mentors to help with planning, balance, and wellbeing
✅ Pastoral care including stress management and wellbeing techniques
✅ Super-curricular opportunities in music, arts, sport, and leadership
✅ Flexible pathways tailored to your goals

Our Admissions Team is available all summer, and you can meet with the Head of Sixth Form to explore your options.

To enquire about Sixth Form places, complete the form below and our Admissions team will be in touch.