A MOLD mum has labelled this year's A-level results system "horrendously stressful" after her son's apprenticeship was put at risk due to his grades.

Mold Alun School student Matthew Edwards, 18, needs two B grades to enlist on the mechanical apprenticeship he has set his sights on.

He was predicted to receive two B grades and an E.

But what he received was one C, one D and an E.

His mother Lindsay Edwards, 47, said: "He was unsure about whether to go to university or go for the apprenticeship - but he decided on the apprenticeship.

"The university has accepted him but he can't get on the apprenticeship, which is what he really wants to do. "So now he has to appeal, but we have no way of knowing how to because there's no information.

"We are sending emails here, there and everywhere.

"It has been horrendously stressful."

Mrs Edwards said the situation has been made all the more upsetting due to the amount of work her son has put in over the last year and throughout lockdown. "He wasn't happy with his AS results," she said, "so he really worked hard to get his grades up. "A year of slogging and plastering his walls with revision notes has all been for nothing. "What was the point of sending out predicted grades? The system has let him down."

Matthew said: "I am devastated and disgusted. "The teacher couldn't give me enough praise for my work and to wake up and get this - it's horrific and such a disappointment.

"My dream and ambition has been to do this mechanical apprenticeship, but now that is in doubt because I don't have the grades to back me up."

Matthew's dad, Darren, added: "We were all completely stressed out as to what we could do to rectify it. "We saw similar issues in England but we thought Wales would get it right. "This standardisation process is ridiculous.

"Lots of people have suffered and we don't even know how the mechanics of the system work."

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Data published by Qualifications Wales this week shows that approximately 94 per cent of the grades are the same as or within one grade of the Centre Assessed Grades.

"This is before any adjustments are made as a result of the AS floor announced Wednesday by the Minister for Education.

“We have also asked Qualifications Wales to consider whether the grounds for appeal can be broadened for all A level, AS level and GCSE qualifications and we expect to provide more information on this next week.

“No student from Wales should be disadvantaged against other UK students.

"We are pleased that, following the publication of [Thursday's] results, UCAS have reported the highest number of Welsh learners being offered a place at university since 2011.”

On appeals, the spokesman added: "Learners who are not happy with their grades can appeal through their school or college in the same way that they have always been able to do.

"If you are worried that something’s gone wrong with a grade, the first thing to do is talk to your school or college.

"If they agree that it looks like something has gone wrong with the process, then they’ll pursue it with WJEC.

"If they don’t agree that something’s gone wrong, but if you still think so, schools and colleges also have systems in place for you to escalate your concerns.

"Anyone with other questions or queries should check the helpful information available on WJEC’s website as well as Qualifications Wales.

"We have also asked Qualifications Wales to look at whether the grounds for appeal can be broadened and they will report on that as early as possible next week.

“Qualifications Wales are considering the appeals process and will provide more information early next week.”