BTec result delays causing students 'stress and anxiety'

Students left waiting for their BTec results at a college say they feel let down over the delays.

Students at the Heart of Worcestershire College in Redditch said they have been unable to find out if their university places were confirmed, causing them "stress and anxiety".

The college blamed "technical issues" at exam board Pearson, adding "we share our students' frustrations".

Pearson told the BBC it was looking "urgently" into the delays.

Rachel Gidney, from Bromsgrove, who did a BTec in children's learning and development, said she and her classmates were left "very stressed and anxious", after being due to get their results on Thursday, alongside students getting their A-Level grades.

With many still waiting, the 18-year-old said it was impacting her classmates' options when it comes to university clearing because "it puts us behind the rest of the country while we wait for our grades".

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"We're all quite annoyed and very anxious," Ms Gidney said.

"Uni and jobs are uncertain anyway because of Covid and this just isn't helping."

Another student at the college, Ellie, said she had been left feeling her two-year course has "almost been worth nothing".

"It's sad to think that so many students are left without knowing if they are going to be able to get a place at university," she said.

"I feel truly let down."

A Pearson spokesman said the firm "understands the frustration" caused by the delay and it was working closely with the college to "provide the remaining results as soon as we can".

Thursday saw what has been branded "exam chaos" by the Labour Party after grades were awarded using a controversial modelling system.

The government has defended the results system, with the prime minister calling it "robust".

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