IT is red letter day for thousands of Watford teenagers waiting for A-level results on August 20.

For the first time this year, Hertfordshire Careers Service is offering a post-results telephone helpline service.

Careers adviser Mr Jerry Dickins said: "Our job is to help students consider all the options and make realistic choices. Last year, we saw a couple of students who had done much better than they expected and needed help in replanning their futures."

As well as the help-line, A-Level and GCSE students can visit the Watford Careers Centre, 65 Queens Road, between 9am and 4.30pm from August 20 to September 4.

The helpline will be launched at 2pm on August 20 and will be open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, until September 4, except for the Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

We have a great deal of experience in helping people at this stage in their lives.

"If pupils - and their family - are feeling very disappointed, it can be hard to decide what to do next.

It is a day many students will dread as they wait to find out whether they have got the grades they need to get onto the university course of their choice.

For most pupils the news will be good and they can start to make the final arrangements for the next stage of their education.

But there will be a few who will have failed to get the grades to meet their university offers or will need help in finding their way through the clearing system.

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