GCSE Results Day: A Young Carer’s Advice

GCSE Results Day. For many young people across the country - and I was one of them - these words invoke feelings of panic. If, like I was, you’re also a young carer, then you might also have lots of other things on your mind as well. 

I am now 22 and have finished university. At 16, I was waiting for my GCSE results whilst trying to quieten the doubts and worries in my mind about my family, their future, and if my own dreams could fit into this. To any young carer receiving GCSE results, I wish I could have told myself some of the following things:
 
Young carers do not sit their GCSEs in a “vacuum”.  

Whilst some students only have to think about school and can switch off at home, young carers don’t get this opportunity. We are often juggling studying with managing medication, arranging GP appointments, cooking meals, and emotional support. This means two things.  

Firstly, any results you do achieve are far more impressive because you have achieved them alongside so much else.  

You did not just do GCSES - you did GCSEs AND supported a loved one. That is no mean feat! 

Being a young carer gives you unique skills 

Secondly, a piece of paper with your grades on will never tell the full story. Although being a young carer whilst being a student can be difficult, it is also important to recognise the unique skillset you have:

Balancing multiple tasks at once, staying calm under pressure, and staying organised - these are all gold dust for future CVs and job applications! 

I wish I could have seen that GCSEs were really not the be-all-end-all that I thought they were. To any young carers about to receive results, try to remember that many of your achievements go far beyond your grades.

Regardless of your results, you have so much else to be proud of, including skills that many other young people might not have! 

Access schemes and bursaries 

Looking to the future, GCSEs can open doors to college or sixth form, but they do not have to close all doors. In fact, the best way to open doors is to be proactive and open-minded.  

If you have a spare 30 minutes, it is worth googling what access schemes or college bursaries you might be eligible for as a young carer. For example, in Year 12 I took part in a Cambridge University Shadowing Scheme, where I attended lectures, tutorials and a formal dinner, and stayed at a Cambridge college.

I did all this for free – because being a young carer made me eligible to apply.  

The Sutton Trust also run several access schemes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including young carers. 

I also managed to get a textbook grant from a local organisation that was offering grants to young carers – this made a huge difference, especially as I was mainly studying humanities A-levels and needed stacks of books!  

Carers Trust can help 

If you are not sure what you want to do next or where to go for help, don’t worry. Carers Trust offers advice and guidance in finding local support here. If you need local support, you can find it on their website just by typing in your postcode to find your nearest carer organisation. 

Juggling education with caring is not easy. I hope every young carer getting GCSE results can already be proud of themselves for getting through their GCSEs whilst being a young carer – I am sure some adults would struggle! 

Best of luck on Results Day. But remember: Your worth, value and potential as a young person are defined by so many things, not just exams.