Exam board Pearson forced to apologise to students still waiting for BTEC results

A BTEC exam board has told students it is "very sorry" they are still waiting for their results, leaving them unable to confirm university places.

Hundreds of thousands of students received A-level, BTEC and T-level exam results on Thursday.

But some in England and Wales who took BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) qualifications with exam board Pearson have had no news of their grades.

Pearson said no "systemic" issue is to blame for the delay, rather the reasons are specific to each affected school or college.

It said the exact number of students still waiting is unknown but represents only a "tiny percentage", adding the figure is "falling all the time" as results are released hourly.

Francesca, 19, from Lancashire, told the PA news agency "half of [her] whole class" failed to receive results on Thursday.

"It definitely is stressful, I'm autistic so was already struggling with waiting for results and preparing to get ready for university - so it definitely has made the pressure worse."

She did an applied science course with Pearson and requires two merits and a pass to be accepted on the human physiology course at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The university has assured her it would hold her place, she said.

A spokesperson for Pearson said: "We are very sorry that some students are still waiting for their results. BTECS are a modular qualification and in order for us to award an overall result, we require grades to be provided for each unit and a claim made to receive the qualification."

They said the team is working all weekend to deliver results as soon as possible, and thanked schools and colleges for working "around the clock".

"UCAS has told us that the best thing a student can do is contact their university of choice directly, so that they know they want the offered place and can hold it. Or we are happy to call their university for them to explain the situation," the Pearson spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for UCAS, the admissions service for higher education institutions in the UK, said: "Universities are used to managing [delays] in their processes, and we are working with awarding bodies to ensure all students can receive a decision on their application.

"UCAS advises that universities hold offers until September 7, so any student that has yet to receive their qualification results has time to meet this. Students are also free to start their Clearing research should they wish."

Education Secretary James Cleverly said on Twitter students should be "reassured that UCAS has asked universities to hold places for students in this position".

Shadow education minister and Labour MP for Chesterfield Toby Perkins accused the "zombie government" of letting students down.

"They need to get a grip of this fast and the exam boards need to be honest and open about what is going on," he said.

Any student still waiting for results can call Pearson on 0345 618 0440 and contact UCAS on the phone or online.