I was crushed when I didn't get my grades - CEO

Sarah Hughes is chief executive of mental health charity Mind

Thousands of students will be either rejoicing or despairing today as they receive their A-level results. But one high achiever tells BBC News that it was personal motivation, self-belief and hard work that propelled her to the top spot of a mental health charity.

Sarah Hughes remembers results day like it was yesterday, even though it was nearly 30 years ago when she found out she would be entering clearing to get into her chosen university and undergraduate course.

"I was crushed," said the 49-year-old, who is originally from London but now living in Cambridgeshire.

"I was with my dad and sat on the sofa next to him. And I opened the results. It was a very scary 48 hours after that."

Unfortunately for Sarah, her A-level results of BCD fell short of the BCC she needed to automatically enrol onto the University of Hull's social policy and social work course.

"It was devastating," she recalled. "My dad did a great job of making me feel better, but nonetheless it was tricky.

"So I went into clearing for my course, really kind of praying that I would get through."

Passionate

She said she was "anxious and worried" over the ensuing days as she waited to find out if she would be accepted. She was.

It was the love and support of her family and friends that got her through those tricky few days, preventing her "world from crashing in", she said.

Sarah eventually secured a place after convincing the university that she was passionate about the course.

She said she struggled with exams but added that she "just kept going".

"I failed GCSE maths twice. I'm somebody who is not incredibly academic, but I just wanted to do my best and so I think that helps."

Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers.

However, prospective students who have changed their mind about what or where they wish to study, and those who have applied outside the normal application window, can also use it.

According to Ucas, which runs the clearing process, in 2021 there were 24,465 18-year-olds who entered clearing because they either did not meet the terms of their university offer, or had “self-released into the system".

In 2022, that figure rose to 33,145. In 2023, it was 37,555.

Sarah was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull in July

Thirty years after receiving her grades, Sarah is now sitting in the top seat of Mind, having been made the charity's chief executive in 2023.

She said she had known since the age of 18 that she wanted to lead the mental health charity and it was "keeping [her] eyes on the prize", along with support from family, friends and tutors, that got her there.

"From a very young age I knew that I wanted to work in the field of health and social care," said Sarah, who has worked in a chief executive role at a number of other organisations.

In July, Sarah was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull for services to mental health, which she described as being "wild and humbling".

"It was wonderful. One of the biggest honours of my life.

"I was just like 'oh my gosh, I can't believe it'."

Believing

Casting her mind back to her late teens, Sarah said she "wouldn't have believed" she would have got this far and encouraged people to see the bigger picture.

"It's a big day, but it isn't the rest of your life," she said.

"I've had a great career but I still haven't got maths GCSE."

Now she's reached the top, what advice does she have for budding CEOs?

"It's having a vision and believing you're capable of it and believing in yourself. But at the same time drawing on your networks, letting people help you, trying and failing at things.

"I haven't been successful at everything I've done. I think the first thing is follow your passion."