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.
So what are the options for these learners? Is there life beyond not getting into university? Well, Nick Davy, Higher Education Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges, has commented that there are a multitude of possibilities open to these young people including “full or part-time higher education offered by colleges, which is often cheaper, and a range of professional certificates and diplomas such as marketing and accountancy. There's also the option of an apprenticeship or higher apprenticeship in a range of occupations.”
At NCFE, we couldn’t agree more. Whilst university is the perfect route for many learners, other flourish more in an alternative credible training environment. Learners also need to think about the debt that they will accrue through going to university and consider their employment prospects at the end of their course.
What’s more, the government is making real strides to ensure that apprenticeships are seen as a gold standard alternative to a university place for today’s young people. For example, they’ve recently announced the introduction of 40 new employer-designed apprenticeships in a range of occupations from engineering, hospitality, law, accountancy and journalism. The idea behind this is to narrow the divide between university and apprenticeships, break down that barrier and also meet the needs of industry.
A big hurdle when it comes to young people choosing the vocational route over the academic one is parent perception and pride. Research from the Edge Foundation revealed that nearly a quarter of young people have been told by parents and careers advisors that they were "too clever for vocational education".
It’s clear that this myth needs to be addressed. Particularly in the light of research carried out by the IPPR this year, which highlighted that many of the jobs expected to drive economic growth and mobility in the future will be accessible with a vocational qualification. By 2022 there is set to be an additional 3.6 million job vacancies in mid-skilled occupations (such as accounting technicians, child care supervisors, legal executives, radiographers), all of which employ high numbers of people with vocational qualifications at level 3 – the standard reached through advanced apprenticeships and many further education courses. Additionally, the skills required for 9 out of the 10 most in-demand occupations of the future can be attained by completing vocational qualifications.
At NCFE, we remain committed to working with you to meeting the demands of these future industry needs through our high quality vocational qualifications and apprenticeships.
