Exam results hang in the air at the moment - last week’s A level results in which local pupils achieved amazing things with all our secondary schools seeing more than 96% of the exams taken resulting in A*-E passes - and tomorrow’s GCSE results.
After a glorious summer of freedom (albeit a bit of wet one) this is when, for a lot of our young people, reality can start to chomp down. A couple of weeks ago I was visiting the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood to see the excellent work that pupils taking part in National Citizen’s Service were up to. Toiling away they were cleaning and renovating the living quarters of animals who had had been abused or neglected – I held a recovering bearded dragon lizard called ‘Blue’ and met a horse called Hope.
Anyone who has a poor opinion of the youth of today should go and see the work they’ve done. Giving up their holiday time for free, they were working long hours to support a local charity that provides a place of compassion for animals and an excellent day out for the family. This was good, earthy stuff, they were rolling up their sleeves, weeding and mucking out – I didn’t see anyone check their phone the whole time I was there.
Talking to them, GCSE results were weighing heavily on their minds. These GCSEs might determine what courses they could do next year. A-level pupils I’ve talked to in the constituency have had university offers hanging over them and are now looking forward to their well-earned places or muscling through clearing. These are all very important exams which will set the course for the next phase in these young people’s lives.
To those who have achieved what they wanted: the very greatest congratulations, remember this elation and that it was won by hard work. To those who did not: chin up. This may mean you can’t do what you had hoped to do. You cannot change the past, but you can still change the future. Advance.