This document discusses student exam results and provides reassurance for those who do not achieve their desired grades. It contains the following key points: 1) On results day, there will be photos of joyful and disappointed students dealing with their exam outcomes. Politicians will comment on results and pubs will profit from celebrations. 2) Students facing disappointing results should not panic, as there are many options still open to them. Famous and successful people like Richard Branson and Bill Gates experienced poor results but still achieved great things. 3) Poor exam performance does not have to define your future or stop you from pursuing different and better opportunities. Setbacks are usually temporary.

1. 39The Moreton Hall Directory
As our students come through the annual ritual of results day we can expect a
few certainties:
l a barrage of photographs of teenagers leaping for joy (usually twins!)
l photographs of others in shock as they deal with disappointment
l if the national results are better than last year – cries that standards are falling
l if the results are worse – fears that exams are too tough
l politicians will try to point score
l pubs will make a killing in celebration and consolidation drinks
In the midst of all this teenagers are expected to make
life-altering contingency plans.
The lesson?
Don’t panic! If you missed out on the grade you hoped
for – be it at A Level or GCSE – don’t worry. You have
many options open to you. These setbacks are usually
temporary.
Richard Branson – left school at 16
Ian McEwan – didn’t get the grades to take up his
Cambridge scholarship
David Davis – didn’t get the grades to take up university
place
Winston Churchill – failed at school, failed entrance
exams to Royal Military College
Bill Gates – dropped out of university
Steven Spielberg – dropped out of Junior High School
from the learning disabled class
Ringo Starr – dropped out of school at 15
Many of our most successful people experienced
disappointing results - it did not stop them it was merely
the start of something different and better.
home & lifestyle
Didn’t make the Grade ? –
It’s not the end of the world.
Claire Meadows-Smith
Head of Maths, St Albans RC High School, Ipswich
and Founder of The Community Maths School
Practise lots, be confident and have fun!
The Community
Maths School
BURY ST EDMUNDS
www.communitymathsschool.co.uk
Claire Meadows-Smith
07747 037 441
High Quality maths tuition at KS3,
KS4 and A Level at affordable prices
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confidence boosting & enjoyable
sessions in small groups
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10am to 12 noon
Sat 14th September
NewNewNew GCSE Maths re-sit
package for November 2013