But even at the end of clearing there are many who have passed A-levels only to be told that they just aren't good enough. The temptation is to resit; but resitters tend to improve by only one grade, and universities tend to increase their demands by one grade, so whether this is sensible is debatable. Some may seek work directly, though in the present economic climate that may be harder than before. Others may take a gap year.
What of the remainder? They may well be attracted by some of the higher-level vocational courses on offer within further education, in say, engineering, business or art and design, and that would be a positive outcome. And some school leavers who were thinking about A-levels may now plump instead for vocational further education at age 16. But there are problems ahead, as further education colleges fill up with those who did not make the higher education grade; and colleges will have financial pressures of their own. As they move to new funding arrangements, any growth will not be funded until the next academic year.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
