Your child may open their results feeling pleased, disappointed, relieved or all three. Before discussing grades, ask how they feel and what they want from you. You can take the next practical step together without turning the day into a verdict on their future.
Start with your child, not the comparison
Try: “I am glad you told me. Do you want to talk first, or look at what happens next?” Avoid comparing them with siblings or posting their grades without permission. A child who got high marks can still feel disappointed, and a child who struggled does not need to perform gratitude for your reassurance.
Check the place or course directly
Read the offer and contact the sixth form, college or training provider if the grades differ from its stated requirements. Ask whether the place remains available, whether another course is suitable and what must happen by when. Do not assume either acceptance or rejection from one number on a results slip.
Keep your child involved in the call or email. Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the next action. If a result review is being considered, tell the provider and ask what that means for enrolment.
A review of marking is not a guaranteed extra mark
Speak to the school’s exams officer about any suspected error. A clerical re-check and a review of marking are different services. A review checks whether marking was applied correctly; it is not simply a fresh attempt to obtain a higher grade. Marks and grades can rise, fall or stay the same.
Under JCQ post-results rules, the candidate must give written consent after results are issued before a clerical re-check or review of marking is requested. Your child needs to understand the downside as well as the possible benefit. Being near a grade boundary is not, by itself, proof of an error.
Deadlines and fees: ask early
For the summer 2026 series, JCQ lists 24 September 2026 as the standard deadline for review-of-marking requests to reach awarding bodies. Schools may have earlier internal deadlines. Other services, qualifications and series can have different dates. Confirm the exact exam board, service and deadline with the exams officer rather than relying on this date for every case. Check the current JCQ requirements.
There is no universal £30 to £50 fee. Ask for the current cost per component, who pays and when a fee is refunded. The GOV.UK review guide for England explains the school or college route and possible outcomes.
Keep the nation and qualification clear
The GOV.UK appeals process is for England. Its overview links to the separate Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish routes. GCSE advice should not be applied automatically to Scottish National qualifications or vocational awards.
Explore next steps without calling them second best
Ask the provider about relevant resits, course levels, apprenticeships or other training. Availability, funding and entry conditions vary. Start with what the young person wants to learn or do, then check the route’s actual requirements. A different route is not a consolation prize.
If distress continues beyond results day, use support for a child with low mood. You can also read avoiding sibling comparisons and find wider help in Dad Resources.
Updated 10 September 2026. Sources used for the guidance are linked above.
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