They are the culmination of years of hard work at school or college, but not everyone picking up exam and vocational qualification results will get the grades they hoped for. With exams returned fully to pre-Covid conditions this summer qualification bosses have made clear that results on August 15 will be lower than at any time since 2019 which means some candidates will be disappointed.

Many teenagers and their parents will be nervous as grades arrive and some may have to re-think plans for jobs and university places hoped for. Coleg Gwent principal Guy Lacey says the last few years have "not been fair on young people" with lasting effects from the pandemic on their education after classroom closures and lockdowns.

After two decades as a principal and steering his college through the pandemic disruption Mr Guy has plenty of experience on how to navigate results day, whether the news is good or bad. As well as heading Coleg Gwent he has been a GCSE examiner for the University of Cambridge Examinations Syndicate, he was a member of the steering group which produced the review of vocational qualifications for the Welsh Government and is chair of Colegau Cymru – the voice for Further Education in Wales – so there's not much he doesn't know about results days. Join our WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

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For those who are disappointed with their grades Mr Guy has this advice: "Receiving your results is only the beginning. Your local further education (FE) college is always ready to provide independent advice if you need to rethink your next steps.

"There are many options available and a lot of opportunities to find something that will suit you. Stay open-minded, seek advice, and don't lose heart."

For those who do better than expected he advises caution too: "Sometimes people do better than they thought, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they need to change their plans. If you are happy with your plan, then it's best to stick with it.

"If you do exceptionally well unexpectedly, consider the benefits of veering from your original plan. Do you want to derail all your planning? Your first choice may still be the best one."

Parents should also try to remain calm and not try to rush their child into decisions if they don't get the results they hoped for: "My advice to parents is not to put pressure on your child. If your child is disappointed, remember that these results aren’t life-defining.

"Be supportive and listen. Don’t push them in any one direction but give them time and space to process their feelings. Sometimes, from disappointment new opportunities can arise that were never envisioned. And sometimes that unexpected choice can lead to a child that is happy and fulfilled."

Mr Guy said he was also in no doubt that this year's cohort has been affected by the disruption of the pandemic, even if exam systems have returned to pre-Covid conditions. He believes the last few years have not been fair on them.

"I think this generation undoubtedly was impacted by disruption to their schooling from 2020 onwards, and now as we return to pre-pandemic exams and assessment, I think young people and their teachers should be at a point where they are moving on without the pandemic hanging over them.

"The last few years have not been fair to our young people but they have been amazingly resilient, and the assessment process is being applied evenly. So whether it is fair or unfair, it’s equal for everyone."

But he reassured young people that his college and other institutions are on hand to help on results days. "Many FE colleges including Coleg Gwent will be open on results day and on hand to offer support and advice, whether you're happy with your results, uncertain about your next steps, or didn't get the grades you hoped for.

"We understand that students often feel a mix of emotions on results day, so our support team will be on hand to offer emotional support and wellbeing resources. Our ambitions team will also be available to speak to learners about their options, whether that’s going to university, getting a job, or taking on an apprenticeship."

And while exams are valued and valuable they aren't everything, he said: "Some people are good at exams, and others struggle. There are so many routes to success and ways for people to find their passion, including apprenticeships and Btecs.

"At Coleg Gwent, we also support many adults who have not succeeded in exams during their years in compulsory education. Our Access to Higher Education diplomas is a great way to enter university and many of our adult learners go on to excel in education."