'I don't want anyone written off': Mayor moves to reassure young people ahead of A-level results day

Hundreds of teenagers across the region are anxiously awaiting to find out their A-level results, which will be released on Thursday, with GCSE scores to be revealed next week.

But Mr Parker, who initially left school aged 16 before returning to education, said it was important to ensure teenagers were aware of all the routes open to them to gain skills and jobs.

Ahead of results day, the mayor held a celebration event at the University College Birmingham’s Moss House for young people who have secured good career paths without going to university.

These include Harry Scolding, a 21-year-old from Solihull who has set up his own business HDS Joinery after completing his apprenticeship at Solihull College.

His exceptional skills have seen him selected to represent Team UK at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 – aka the Skills Olympics.

Josh Davis, a 22-year-old from Northfield who lives with autism, is currently working towards a full time Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship with GMI Construction Group.

Kingstanding resident Alicia Fernandes, aged 19, decided sixth form wasn’t for her and instead secured a Business Administration apprenticeship with Transport for West Midlands and now works as a bus services coordinator.

And Ferdinand ‘Ferdi’ Hylton, who is 21 and from Bloxwich, opted not to go to university and is now part of the design team at Wilkes Engineering. He will be starting his Level 3 Apprenticeship in Engineering in September.

Mr Parker said: “It’s been interesting and exciting seeing so many young people are able to realise their potential by accessing courses and qualifications that were previously unavailable to them.

“I grew up in a very white, working class place in Bristol where hardly anyone, if anyone, went to university. I left school at 16 and if it wasn’t for someone I worked with taking an interest, believing in me and recommending I went back to college to study A-levels, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve had in life.

“For me, helping young people find the best pathway in getting access to the skills they need is one of the most important missions of mine and one shared by all the leaders of the West Midlands.

“And that’s really important because we have twice as many people in the region out of work than the national average.

“The lack of skills and opportunities blights the lives of too many young people and at the same time we have businesses that can’t recruit young people because those people haven’t got the skills they need.

“By matching the two, we can grow our economy, we can help businesses thrive and give young people opportunities that will change their lives.

“I think expectations of going to university need to change. We need to explain to people the opportunities available to them across a whole range particularly for those young people that aren’t academic or that school wasn’t the best environment for them to learn.

“I understand the anxiety (of exam results), lots of us have been through it and it feels like a very important moment for them and it is.

“Hopefully all those who have taken exams get the best possible results but I also want to say to those people that don’t, there are other routes available to them.

“I don’t want anyone in this region to be written off at 16 or 18 because the results they get at that young age. We must find and will find other routes for them to get access to the skills and jobs they need.”