It ought to be a day of celebration: a day for popping champagne corks and pats on the back.

But the reality of being a student in 2011 is far from rosy. For Shropshire’s successful A-Level students, today marks the start of a long and perilous climb into the world of work and adulthood.

Twenty years of muddled thinking from successive Governments has left students with a mountain to climb. While once teenagers with good grades could look forward to a place at university, a relatively well-paid job and a good career path, they now face only uncertainty.

“Education, education, education,” was the mantra that Tony Blair used to define his three top priorities in Government. His promise clangs like a broken bell. Debt, intense pressure and job insecurity are Blair’s legacy.

It is impossible not to feel sympathy for our students. A generation ago, youngsters packed their rucksacks and headed for Australia or Asia to enjoy gap year adventures. They had the luxury of being able to put their career ambitions on hold as they learned valuable life lessons.

The class of 2011 cannot afford any such indulgence. If they skip a year’s studying, they’ll face university fees that may have tripled. Their noses will be pressed to the grindstone as they seek out work.

In three or four years’ time, they also face the dilemma that their degrees no longer carry the weight they once they did. In a crowded marketplace, employers can be increasingly selective and as the economy struggles to get back on track, prospects are bleak.

Hope springs eternal, however, and we wish this year’s students every good fortune.