The Federation of Awarding Bodies has called on universities to show flexibility "and indeed empathy" in their admissions process in response to yesterday’s A-level results.

Apprenticeship employers should also try to consider the “whole person in the workplace”, rather than just grades, FAB said. 

The organisation’s statement comes amid a growing backlash over yesterday’s A level results, which saw a large proportion of students downgraded. The Association of Colleges has called for a review on the basis it may have been bias towards large cohorts. A survey of sixth-form colleges showed grades in nine out of 10 were lower than in previous years. Meanwhile, Tes understands that some BTEC students may still be waiting for their results.

Comment: 'I have never seen such a car-crash set of results'

A levels 2020: A-level results: Grades lower in nine out of 10 SFCs

More: Growing backlash over A-level results

Prospects hit hard

FAB’s board said the coronavirus pandemic had hit the prospects of young people hard, but awarding organisations had worked closely with Ofqual to put the agreed exceptional arrangements in place after exams were cancelled, and learners who have received results for vocational and technical qualifications could be assured that standards have been maintained.

Tom Bewick, chief executive of FAB, said: “We must always remember that this generation of young people have not been able to take exams and formative assessments this year through absolutely no fault of their own.

“We call on universities, via UCAS, to show maximum flexibility and indeed provide empathy towards those students looking for a place this autumn, particularly if their grades fall short of expectations. Similarly, we would encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships to young people and to look at the potential of the whole person in the workplace, rather than their detailed grades.

He said he would be reaching out to the chief executives of Universities UK, UCAS and UVAC to explore how the federation’s members could work with them to smooth the path for this summer’s students. “I will also ask the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to work with us on a campaign in the autumn to promote to employers the value that young apprentices below the age of 25 can add to their organisations.”