When Yasser Imlahi Iallouchen arrived to collect his BTec results on Thursday morning, he said he was so nervous he could barely breathe. “I felt like I was going to cry, vomit, collapse. I was just so worried and scared because it’s something that will affect my future,” he said.
Imlahi Iallouchen needed to achieve DDD in his BTec in biomedical science – which is the equivalent of three A grades at A-level – to get into Queen Mary University of London, where he hoped to study.
“I was scared, shaking. I didn’t know what to do … but once I opened it and I saw what I was expecting, I was happy. I felt a huge sense of relief.” In September, he will begin his course in marketing and management with one year in industry.
Imlahi Iallouchen was one of more than 1,200 students at Luton sixth form college (LSC) collecting their A-level and BTec results, and one of thousands across the country celebrating top grades. At LSC, the oldest in the country, about 60% of the students do a combination of A-levels and BTecs.
Mohammad Danyaal Asif, 18, could barely speak, he was so stunned at his triple A* grades in maths, chemistry and physics A-levels. “I’m just so shocked,” he said. “It’s better than what I needed.” He is now following in his older brother’s footsteps and heading to the University of Hertfordshire, where he will study aerospace engineering.
His mother, Adeeba Asif, said she was “unbelievably proud” of her son. “He deserves it because he really worked hard for two years, really hard. Even in his GCSEs he worked hard. We supported him throughout the time and it all paid off for him. He wants to be a pilot one day and we just couldn’t be prouder.”
While many at the college were elated with their results, others were a little disappointed. Lina Bounab missed out on her initial offer at Queen Mary to study law and politics after achieving A*, A, C. She needed to get three As. “When I logged on to UCAS, I had an unconditional offer [from Queen Mary], but with substantial changes. It made me think: what could it be?
“I felt a bit disappointed, I can’t lie, but now I’ve had time to think and I think this is a good pathway moving forward, so I am definitely happy,” she said. “Every student that has got results today, be proud of yourself,” she added. “I am.”
Despite figures showing many young people achieved top A-level grades and vocational qualifications this year, the attainment gap between the least and most disadvantaged 18-year-olds in England has widened, as has the gap in regional entry rates.
Luton sixth form college’s principal and chief executive, Altaf Hussain, said he hoped the Labour government would reconsider its decision to defund BTecs, which he said would impact social mobility.
“Not everybody is geared to do A-levels, and many of our students mix and match, and they go on to university. So last year, we were in the top 15% of adding value for HE [higher education] progression. So that means BTecs and A-levels work and I’m really disappointed that we still can’t have three options, T-levels, A-levels, BTecs, so you give people a genuine choice based on their own particular needs and skills,” he said. “I think T-levels have an absolute good place in the economy, but they could have easily fitted alongside highly successful BTecs.”
The college will not know for sure what is going to happen with BTecs until December, but it will still welcome students for the new academic year in September. “That’s going to be a difficult information and advice guidance process for young people who want clarity in terms of decision-making,” Hussain said.
Asked how he was going to celebrate tonight, Imlahi Iallouchen said: “Sleep!” His first priority was to tell his parents the good news, and then “going home and sleeping. I haven’t slept yet!”
