It’s A-level results day and as we speak, thousands of young people around the UK are either celebrating their success or commiserating over unexpected or disappointing results.
This year, record numbers of university places have been offered, and there’s been a marginal fall in top grades for the fifth year in a row.
The proportion of A* and A grades awarded was 25.8%, down by 0.1% on 2015, while the pass rate of 98.1% stayed the same.
Ucas reports that 424,000 places have been offered, up by 3% on results day in 2015, and it seems that many places are still available through clearing, even at leading Russell Group universities.
It’s been said that this year is a ‘buyer’s market’, with universities competing to attract students.
Everyone receiving their results today – whether they’re the grades they hoped for or not – will be making important decisions about their next steps. That might be confirming their place at their chosen university, trying to secure a place through clearing, or looking into alternatives to higher education, but what’s vital is that these young people are provided with all the options and the information they need to make the right decision for them.
University is the perfect next step for some learners. However, the academic route doesn’t suit everyone, and some young people may want to avoid taking on student debt – which could be higher than ever as university fees are set to rise further from 2017 – or they might know exactly what job they want to go into and therefore want to take a more direct and focused route.
For those looking at alternatives to higher education, it’s worth considering whether an apprenticeship would be an appropriate route. Apprenticeships are now available in most sectors and allow you to earn as you learn, while getting valuable work experience and staying free of debt. This week, a report from Barclays and the Centre for Economics and Business Research has argued that those entering apprenticeships after school could have much higher lifetime earnings than those going into graduate careers.
Don’t just take our word for it – hear what Conrad Bunday has to say about his experience as an apprentice. Now aged 20, Conrad has completed a Level 3 apprenticeship and is already the manager of a Costa Coffee store. Watch the video below to hear Conrad talk about his journey so far, why choosing an apprenticeship was such a good decision, and his career aspirations for the future.
You can also find out more about the range of full and part apprenticeships we offer.
What’s your reaction to this year’s A Level results? Have you collected your results today and if so, what have you decided to do next? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
