Students across Dorset have been praised for their “remarkable resilience” as thousands get set to discover their A-Level and BTEC results.

It’s the first time since 2019 that exams have taken place due to the pandemic, with pupils forced to learn at home through online teaching during several periods over the past two years.

In 2020 and 2021, exams were scrapped with teachers submitting predicted results in 2020 in conjunction with a controversial algorithm and in 2021 grades were based on teacher assessments.

Ahead of students receiving their results, Education Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News that some students "might get slightly lower grades than perhaps they were expecting and that they were hoping".

But leading figures in Dorset Council have said all students should be “very proud” of their hard work.

Councillor Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said: “Students and staff have demonstrated remarkable resilience over the last two years during challenging conditions because of the pandemic, and I thank them for all their hard work.

“You should all be very proud of your achievements.

“Young people may feel uncertain if things haven’t worked out as planned, or hoped for, but I say to them please do not despair. There are many different routes to further education and employment, with training and support to get there. I wish everyone the best for their results and for the future.”

Vik Verma, Director of Education and Learning at Dorset Council said: “Good luck and thank you to all our young people and to staff across our schools, colleges and post 16 institutions for their hard work and determination.

“From further education, to apprenticeships, work and training, there’s a wealth of support to help you choose what is right for you.

“If you are unsure of your next step, take a look at our webpages to read inspirational stories from some of Dorset’s young people who have taken a range of paths to their fulfilling careers”.

More information about next steps can be found at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/where-next