YOUNG people all over the town will be waking up this morning anxious to find out whether their hard work has paid off in their A-Level results.

Mixed emotions are set to drench the town as students find out if they have made the grades to start their dream jobs or secure their university and further education places.

At New College, students will open the results of 6,750 exam entries taken earlier this summer, while others can view their results online from 6.30am.

Graham Taylor, Principal of New College said: “It’s a nail biting time in anticipation of level 3 results, but results day is one of the best and most exciting in the New College calendar.

“Learners and staff have worked incredibly hard this year and we look forward to some great results and progression to university and exciting career opportunities.

“Results can have a life-changing effect and determine university choice and future job prospects. More top universities are involved in clearing this year as they can recruit as many students with grades ABB as they like. We are running a careers and advice clinic to advise learners on their options.

“We wish all learners the best of luck and fingers crossed.”

At Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, students are collecting their results from 8.30am, and many students have aspirations to go on to several top ten universities.

Headteacher George Croxford said: “We are excited and expecting excellent results which will be the end product of hard work by staff, students and their families.

“We have our sixth form guidance team on hand to help anyone who is unsure or unhappy with their results. There are also many subject teachers, leadership team and our whole exam and data team available to support and guide our students.

“The vast majority of students will go to university and this year we have students with places at Oxford, Cambridge and many other universities. Course choice varies from medicine to politics to photography to sociology and many others. It is an exciting but nerve wracking day for everyone.”

Staff at The Ridgeway were also feeling optimistic, with results expected to stay in line and slightly exceed previous years.

Steven Colledge, headteacher, said: “A-Level results are really life-changing results.

“Despite the new pressures and changes with A2 and A-Levels I think our students have stepped up to meet those new demands with the help and support of parents and staff, and that’s no mean feat.

“I think most of our students will be pleased with what they’ve achieved.”

Courses - take your pick

While many students flocked into school from as early as 8.30am to pick up their precious envelopes, others were logging on to the UCAS website from 8am this morning to see whether their place had been confirmed.

For those that have not quite made the grades they need, their first port of call should be the University of college they have applied to, which might still accept them.

Otherwise they can log on to UCAS and find out if they are eligible to use Clearing – the system which matches applicants who don’t have a place with suitable vacancies.

The list of courses with vacancies in Clearing has been live since just after 12am today, and from 7.30am UCAS advisers have been on the end of the phones to support and advise students who may have missed their target grades.

Helen Thorne, Director of Policy and Research at UCAS said: “There’ll be thousands of courses available in Clearing this year – perhaps in subjects students might not have necessarily considered, and the scheme remains open until the end of September.

“Stay positive and remember to prepare thoroughly before calling universities and colleges for an intelligent discussion about the courses you’re interested in. You’ll find all the information you need about Clearing on UCAS.com.”

Universities and colleges will be keen to hear from students once they know that they are eligible for Clearing and will be able to make verbal offers to suitably qualified students when they call. From 5pm students can accept Clearing offers in Track.