By Katherine Sellgren BBC News Online education staff

James Lacey had eagerly awaited Tuesday 15 October - for him it held all the excitement and anticipation of results day.

James was hoping for an upgrade in his A-level psychology after an independent inquiry into allegations of A-level grade fixing ordered some units be reviewed.

James has lost faith in the system

He was awarded a C in the subject earlier this summer, a result which lost him a place to study psychology at Manchester University.

But Tuesday did not bring the good news James was hoping for and, instead of cracking open the champagne and toasting the future, he was thrown into anxiety over what his future holds.

His hopes of a future in Manchester were dashed when he found there was no change at all to his grades.

"It's so depressing, nothing at all has changed - it's still a U for coursework and still a C overall," said James.

"I haven't got anywhere since eight weeks ago when the results came out.

"I've had such a stressful day with this and I was so looking forward to this day, thinking this time next year I'll be at Manchester - again, all my hopes have been dashed.

"Nothing at all has changed - I feel really, really let down and lost now about what to do next."

Next step

James's dilemma is this: does he re-take his psychology A-level or settle for a place at a less prestigious university with the grades he already has?

His school - Knights Templar in Baldock, Hertfordshire - has advised him to apply to other universities for next autumn rather than re-take.

James himself is concerned about re-taking.

"What's to say next time anything will improve? I might get an E," said James.

"I have no faith in the system whatsoever, no confidence in them to mark me correctly."

He is also concerned that he will not have time to fit in all the necessary study before re-sits in January.

He does not want to wait until June because he is now taking a year out and hoping to travel to New Zealand in January, having also lost a place at his second-choice university.

"It's my gap year now and I need to try and enjoy it," he said.

James said he would discuss the matter with his parents before making a final decision, but his chances of a student life at Manchester are fading rapidly.

"And A-levels are meant to be the gold standard in education - it's just a joke, isn't it?"

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