I think it's cruel

Perhaps not all schools are as careful as yours Lillie. My heart went out to the poor girl on local radio this morning. The reporter thankfully didn't prolong the interview but went on to a young man who was happy with his results.

Exactly NannyR2016, we only select the students who are able to cope with the media attention. We know their results in advance, but still celebrate and commiserate with them when they open their envelopes.

I've had some lovely messages from parents today.

Elainel I'm guessing your niece has just sat her AS level which is the first part of her A2 level she will sit next year. The results in this year group give universities an indication of the final grade and their offers are often based on these results. However, it all changes in 2018.

Schools know students exam results the day before and they invite press to come in early where a few selected students also come in early to open their results. These students will have done well and their parents will have have been told that and they will have given their permission. I know this because it happened to us with one of our children. The school wouldn't tell us the actual results.

So many are keen to have their moment of 'fame' even if it is only measured in seconds and don't realise that nothing is as simple as all that.

Not sure how it works but I agree Sunseeker - it must be very distressing for the teenager if they get less than expected. Even if they do ask permission, it may sound great to be on the news at the time but the kids probably don't think through the consequences.
In Scotland the results come to your house or online so going to school to get them is a set up.
I don't know if that happens in rest of UK. My niece in Northumberland got results at home when she returned from holiday. She is 17 and has another year till A levels so I don't know what the results are for.

I always presumed that the media have asked permission to be there before the youngsters opened their results.

Agreed. There should be a few teachers/headteachers around telling the kids to walk away, or else telling the interviewers to back off till people have had a chance to read their results at least.

So, yeah, I'm blaming schools for allowing over interference as well as media bods for doing it.