London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

BTec delays: 'If it was A-levels this would've been sorted quicker'

BTec delays: 'If it was A-levels this would've been sorted quicker'

For thousands of BTec students, this year's results day came and went without an outcome - after a delay in issuing grades. For about 2,000 of them, the delay is dragging on, according to exam board Pearson. From the endless refreshing of websites, to dismay at communication, and a scramble for accommodation, this is how two students were affected.

Holly Whitford-Hughes was still without results on Sunday morning meaning her dreams of studying criminology with forensic psychology at the University of West London were on hold.

The 20-year-old from Hilton in Derbyshire, who has now received the grades for her BTec in uniformed public services, said there was an overwhelming sense of "being let down".

Holly points to the fact that A-level results every year are a staple of newspaper front pages, but on Thursday there was "no mention" of the delays to BTec results until it got coverage more widely this weekend.

"Everyone sees BTecs as maybe not as good or not as rewarding, but just because we don't have to sit the big exams at the end doesn't mean that it's not as hard work," she says.

Holly felt the experience of lockdowns, school closures and general disruption to the lives of teenagers during the Covid pandemic - and then the disruption caused by the delay - made her question what all the work had been for.

"They put out a statement saying it happens to a small percentage every year, but it's concerning that over several years they can't get it right," she adds.

"What is going on that they're getting it so wrong, but other exam boards like AQA who are doing pure A-level results don't get it wrong?"

Her university place is now secure, though, and her foresight in securing accommodation before her results dropped means she has, at least, somewhere to live.

Olivia Chester believes similar delays to thousands of A-level students would have had much more attention


For Olivia Chester, a room near Cardiff University's campus remains elusive after the delay in receiving the result of her BTec in business left her scrambling for options.

The 18-year-old, from Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire, endured an "immensely stressful" wait of more than 30 hours until her place to study business management was confirmed on Friday evening.

She believes a big part of the problem is the negative perception of vocational qualifications among the media, government and wider public.

Olivia argued if there had been similar issue with A-Level grades delays "would have been a way bigger deal and sorted way quicker", rather than taking days to resolve.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said she thinks students who take BTec and similar courses are "seen as lesser than" those who do more traditional exam-based qualification.

"It's so important that almost everyone starts to realise that we are seen as below A-level."

On Saturday, another BTec student told the BBC his dream university ended its clearing process before he received his grades.

Pearson has not revealed how many students are yet to hear, but has said that less than 1% of BTec students - who number about 200,000 - were still waiting qualifications as of Sunday afternoon.

The board said it was releasing results hourly and claimed the issues were not "systemic", but that they were finding that the reasons for the delays are "unique to each school or college".

Pearson also had problems with delays getting its BTec results out in 2020, when students similarly claimed to have been "forgotten about" for days.

Another exam board, OCR, has also had delays issuing Cambridge Technicals results to some students this year, and two years ago.

A spokesperson for Pearson reiterated its apologies that some are still waiting for their results.

It said staff were working "around the clock to resolve any remaining issues" with schools and colleges.

"Our team has delivered hundreds of results yesterday and today and we are here all weekend working to deliver more results as soon as we can," it added.

Pearson explained the best thing students can do is "contact their university of choice directly, so that they know they want the offered place and can hold it".

"Or we are happy to call their university for them to explain the situation."

On Saturday. Education Secretary James Cleverly said: "Students should be reassured that UCAS has asked universities to hold places for students in this position. Any student holding an offer who is worried should contact their university for advice."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
×