How missing my grades led me to the right course through Clearing

For some people, Clearing feels like a safety net - something to catch you when things don’t go to plan. Like jumping off the monkey bars as a kid, or when you're mid-air and hoping you’ve got a parachute packed. For me, Clearing was that last-minute lifeline - when things fell apart, it gave me a way forward. This is my honest Clearing story - unfiltered, unexpected, and one that changed my life for the better.

First and foremost, I’m nothing if not honest. So here it is: I expected better results. I tried my hardest, but that French grade just wasn’t meant to be and sometimes, that’s just how it goes. I’ve always been strong academically, whether it was good GCSEs or full marks on my Year 2 SATs maths test. Because of that - and my self-proclaimed unwavering self-confidence - I didn’t have a back-up plan... Until results day came along. Here's a glimpse of what that looked like for me:

Step one:
Luke finds a quite corner to himself and takes some deep breaths. 

Step two:
Luke opens the ominous brown paper envelope.

Steps three, four and five:
Luke screams, panics, and briefly considers fleeing to Peru to avoid telling his dad.

Step six:
Luke talks to his college tutors and discovers Clearing.

And just like that - things started falling into place.

The Clearing window opened at 10:30, and I’d arrived nice and early to collect my results. After working through all six emotional stages, I gave myself an hour to breathe and gather my thoughts before making any calls. I made a quick list of my priorities - how far I was willing to move, the kind of courses I was interested in, and what I wanted to get out of my degree in the long run. Then, eventually, I picked up the phone and started talking.

One thing I was clear on: I didn’t want to rush into anything. I saw my A-level results as a blip on an otherwise solid resumé, and I wasn’t about to throw myself off course because of them. I rang around, spoke to five or six different universities, and pulled together a bit of a shortlist. Each conversation lasted no more than 5–10 minutes and we talked about my previous grades, what I was hoping to do next, and the results I’d just received. (And no - no one asked about my Year 2 SATs. Shame, really.)

My passion for English Language earned me an A at A-level - something I’m genuinely proud of. I loved exploring the scientific side of language, and it’s an area I still hope to study further one day. But when I spoke to Leeds Beckett during Clearing, that particular course wasn’t an option. The team member I spoke to really listened, they took the time to understand my interests, and then suggested something slightly different: English Literature with Creative Writing.

At first, I was hesitant. Given everything I’d worked towards, the stress of the day, and my general discomfort with sudden change, I wasn’t sure. My studies had always been focused on a more analytical, linguistic approach, and I couldn’t help but feel like that A grade might go to waste. But the Clearing staff took the time to explain the course, the modules, and the potential career paths it could open up - and that’s when I made my decision.

And what a decision it was.

This course reignited the same spark that started my love for English back when I was a kid. It’s given me the freedom and the skills to use everything I’d learned, in the way I love most. During my time at Leeds Beckett I’ve studied screenwriting, prose, poetry, and post-colonial literature. I even secured my post-grad job through a placement module. I've developed skills that have set me on my dream career path and I’ve still made use of all the knowledge I thought I’d left behind in A-level English Language.

So, take it from me; don’t see Clearing as something to fear. See it as a second chance, a fresh option. A way to change direction and end up somewhere even better. Your A-levels might be tough, but they don’t have to define you.

And while that’s all solid advice, here’s one more tip:

Grab the Leeds Beckett Priority Clearing Pass - unlike me, you actually have the chance to be prepared for Results Day, with the pass you’ll get access to regular course updates, a dedicated Clearing phone line, Pre-Results Day support and more.