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More than one angle on GCSE grading (p7) Last week saw the announcement of the new GCSE grading system, which will support the introduction of new qualifications starting in 2015. The current A to G scale will be replaced with a 9-1 numerical system, with grade 4 being equivalent to a grade C, grade 7 to a grade A and the new ‘uber-grade’ 9 given to strictly controlled group of top performers.

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The past fortnight has seen the 2 major political parties hold their final annual conference before the General Election in May 2015. At each event, the parties set out their policy plans and goals if they were to lead a majority government post General Election. These plans were articulated through a range of keynote speeches by significant Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet leads, as well as through fringe events, where key decision makers and corporate interests could discuss particular policy matters in a more intimate setting.

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Our Policy Leader has been getting the news hot off the press at Ed Miliband’s last party conference speech before the General Election, outlining ‘Labour’s plans for Britain’s future’. Commentators are billing it as a ‘make or break’ situation for the General Election; so what is Labour planning to do if they win the election? How are they winning hearts and minds?

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Following A Level results this year, we saw a record amount (over 500,000) of university places available despite the fact that the overall pass rate decreased for the first time in 30 years. It’s been suggested that universities were actively competing to attract students, as apprenticeships become a real option for young people in terms of an alternative pathway. However, it’s clear that young people are still not certain on the options available to them and have little clarity of their next steps. A piece of research conducted by Which? University revealed that more than half of students in England and Wales approached their A Level results with back-up plan if they failed to get the grades they needed to get to their university of choice.

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Last month, thousands of UK teens received their GCSE results. Pupils, parents and teachers interrupted their summer holidays and congregated at schools across the country to open that all-important envelope! Overall, the 2014 results show a 98.5% pass rate, down 0.3 percentage points (but with a rise in students receiving A*s). Significantly, the number of English entries dropped by more than 215,000 while the number of maths entries dropped by 76 per cent, from 170,357 down to 39,292.

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As another cohort of 14-16 year olds embark on the next chapter in their education I wonder how much each is considering their next steps beyond the classroom? Where will they go once they leave school and what guidance is there to help them make those choices beyond just the A level and university route? Earlier this year, the Guardian newspaper picked up on new research showing that thousands of university graduates are now earning less than school leavers who’ve taken apprenticeships, despite accumulating far higher debts. Based on research from the Office for National Statistics, the figures show that more than a quarter of graduates were paid, on average, less than the £11.10 per hour for those on work-based training schemes last year.

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Further Education is an option for people at any point in their life. For some, it’s a natural progression from school; for others it’s an option later in life should they choose to pursue a different career path, upskill, or simply learn something new. Vocational education can come in the form of a 2-year Apprenticeship, a college course, or a part-time course that can be studied in the learners’ spare time and allow them to fit it around their other commitments. Yet in comparison to Higher Education and schools, it’s not as widely researched and as a result, it could be seen as an easy target for funding cuts. We have iterated numerous times how important the Further Education sector is to both personal and professional development, and the nature in which qualifications are rated according to importance, with specialised subjects more likely to lose funding in the education sector. Earlier this year the government announced they were to cut funding for 5000 adult vocational courses and highlighted particularly niche and ‘low value’ courses such as self-tanning and balloon artistry, which appeared to support the notion that many of these courses were invaluable and a waste of taxpayers’ money, when in fact many other valuable courses that weren’t mentioned also faced the axe.

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This year saw a transition for GCSE Level qualifications, with a focus on end point examination, (removing the earlier ‘January series’ re-sit & modular examinations). Last week, thousands of teens received their all-important results and overall, the 2014 results show a 98.5% pass rate, down 0.3 percentage points (but with a rise in students receiving A*s). While some subjects, such as ICT, Computing and Business Studies recorded significant growth, the number of English entries dropped by more than 215,000. Among 15-year-olds, the number of maths entries dropped by 76 per cent, from 170,357 down to 39,292.

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So the big day has arrived and the result is…. that the overall pass rate is down for the first time in 30 years. However, the percentage of A* grades awarded has risen from 7.6% to 8.2%. Despite this, there are a record number of university places available and students could still get places at their chosen university, even if they have not achieved the required grades.

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A Level results day – the countdown is on and nerves are running high. In just a few days, thousands of young people across the country will be either celebrating or commiserating as they open that all-important envelope. Eyes awash with tears of relief, of joy, of disappointment. But what happens if the results that they’re clutching aren’t quite what they’re expecting? What next? A recent piece of research conducted by Which? University revealed that more than half of students in England and Wales have no back-up plan if they fail to get the grades they need to get to their university of choice. What’s more, almost three-quarters of applicants (70%) have not researched the clearing process for unfilled degree places (as reported by the BBC).

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Policy Corner - 9 October 2014

Increase in apprenticeship numbers remains cross party consensus

What's emerging from the Labour Party Conference?

Vocational education a viable alternative to University

GCSE changes: What impact will this have?

Careers Guidance on the Cards

The importance of Further Education

GCSE results – what’s the scores on the doors?

Results Day – more young people consider apprenticeships

Results Day approaches – so what happens next?

Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

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Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

Categories

Archive