Covid has hit plans for many including anxious students awaiting their A-Level exam results on Thursday – but help may be at hand with the University of Hertfordshire.

The county's university has revealed it will hold open places for pupils who will appeal their results.

With the coronavirus pandemic decimating our way of life – including exams for talented teenagers – predicted grades rather than exam performance will be the controversial benchmark in assessing whether students will grab a coveted place to study at university.

The move to base decisions on predicted grades is a contentious one - with many intelligent youngsters from working class areas, or who attend schools without a pedigree in sending pupils to university, deeply concerned that they may miss out on a chance to study in higher education.

However, there may be a solution closer to home with UoH confirming it will take a flexible approach this autumn and may still be able to offer students a place even if their results were lower than they may have expected.

Dr Mairi Watson, pro vice-chancellor of education and student experience at the University of Hertfordshire, told BBC Three Counties radio on Tuesday:

"We have a great opportunity this year to welcome students as well always have in the way that we always have, which is to give them an opportunity to study with us regardless of the turbulent times we have gone through over the last few months.

"Clearly no-one could have predicted what the rules were to be like and were are standing by to hold open places until September 7 if students are appealing their places and to give [students] the support they need in the meantime.

"It's fair to say it has been an exceptional year and the processes that are being used to calculate results this year have never been used before.

"Students have not been given the chance to shine in exams as they would have had in previous years so we have to be flexible and open in looking at how we admit students to university and give them the chance to appeal against their marks if they are not content with the outcome.

"Not all universities will be offering the same flexibility to those who haven't achieved the outcomes they want regardless of the appeals system."

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Read Hitchin Nub News on Thursday for our in-depth coverage of the town's A-Level results.

If you have any questions about UoH's processes during clearing call 01707 819 572.