For parents, carers, schools, communities and young people

When a young person misses their A-level grades, it can feel like the ground shifts beneath them. But Clearing is a structured, well-established pathway designed precisely for this moment. Every year, tens of thousands of students secure excellent university places through Clearing.

This guide helps families, educators, and communities support young people with calm, informed steps that protect wellbeing and open doors.

🌿 First: Create a Calm Environment

Before any decisions are made, the priority is emotional regulation.

For parents, carers and schools

• Offer reassurance before advice.
• Keep your tone steady and non-reactive.
• Avoid rushing into "solutions mode" too quickly.
• Remind them that this moment does not define their future.

For students

• Step away from the noise — social media, group chats, comparison.
• Drink water, breathe, and ground yourself.
• Reach out to someone who helps you feel steady.

A regulated nervous system leads to better decisions.

🎓 What Clearing Is — and Why It Matters for Everyone

Clearing is the UCAS process that connects students without a confirmed place to universities with available course spaces. It runs from 5 July to 21 October 2026, with peak activity in August.

Clearing is not a "last resort". It is:

• A mainstream route into university
• A flexible system designed to support students
• A process universities actively participate in
• A chance to explore new subjects, pathways, and opportunities

For families and schools, understanding this helps reduce panic and stigma.

🧭 Step-by-Step: Supporting a Young Person Through Clearing

1. Check UCAS Hub Together

Students should log in to see whether their firm or insurance choice has accepted them. Many universities show flexibility. If both choices are declined, UCAS will confirm Clearing eligibility.

2. Contact the Firm/Insurance University

Parents and teachers can help students prepare for this call, but the student should speak for themselves.

Why this matters:

• Universities sometimes reconsider borderline cases.
• They may offer alternative courses or foundation years.
• It gives clarity before moving into Clearing.

Support with:

• Gathering documents
• Practising a calm script
• Encouraging confidence

3. Explore Clearing Vacancies

This is where schools and families can be especially helpful.

Use:

• UCAS Clearing search
• University websites
• Trusted community networks

Look for:

• Courses aligned with strengths
• Foundation year options
• Related subjects that keep future pathways open

4. Encourage Phone Calls Over Emails

Clearing moves fast. Calls get immediate answers.

Adults can:

• Help practise what to say
• Sit nearby for reassurance
• Keep notes during conversations

Students should:

• Be polite, concise, and confident
• Explain their interest clearly
• Ask whether a verbal offer is possible

5. Collect Verbal Offers

Students can gather multiple offers before choosing one.

Families and schools can help by:

• Talking through pros and cons
• Checking course details
• Ensuring decisions aren't made from panic

6. Add the Clearing Choice in UCAS Hub

Once the student adds the course and the university accepts it, the place is confirmed. Celebrate the resilience it took to get there.

🌱 Wellbeing: The Most Important Part of Clearing

Clearing is fast-paced, but wellbeing must stay central.

What adults can do:

• Keep the environment calm and predictable
• Offer practical help without taking over
• Avoid catastrophising or projecting their own anxieties
• Remind students that Clearing is normal and successful

What students can do:

• Take breaks between calls
• Avoid comparison with peers
• Make decisions based on interest, not fear
• Remember that their value is not tied to grades

🌟 If Clearing Isn't the Right Fit

Families, schools and communities can help students explore alternatives:

• Foundation years
• Gap year + reapplication
• Autumn or summer resits
• Apprenticeships
• College-based higher education (HNC/HND)
• Work experience leading to future entry

There is no single "correct" timeline for success.

💬 Final Word

Missing A-level grades is a moment of disruption — but not a dead end. Clearing exists because universities recognise that potential is bigger than a single results day.

For parents, carers, teachers, and community leaders: your calm presence is one of the most powerful tools a young person has right now.

For students: your future is still wide open. Clearing is simply another doorway into it.