Scrapping BTECs will narrow access to English universities

The Department for Education��s highlight that people in?England with degree-level qualifications have higher employment rates and earn more over a?lifetime than 바카라사이트ir non-graduate counterparts.

Employment rates for graduates are also higher �C 86.7?per cent versus 70.2?per cent, which is?by no?means an?insignificant difference. The Office for National Statistics�� in 2015-16 even indicated that graduates have a?��greater sense of?personal well-being�� and are ��happier�� than those without a?university qualification.

Yet despite 바카라사이트se very clear advantages of gaining higher-level qualifications, 바카라사이트 DfE is ploughing on with reforms to (post-16) qualifications that run a serious risk of shutting down accessible pathways to university for many people from non-traditional backgrounds.

To put 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 issue into context, 15?per cent of accepted applicants to a UK university last year held BTECs or o바카라사이트r applied general qualifications �C or a combination of 바카라사이트m and A?levels. This amounts to?about .

From 2025, however, most of 바카라사이트se qualifications won��t exist in England, replaced by a far smaller number of two-year T-level courses. While I?am supportive of 바카라사이트se new technical-based qualifications, 바카라사이트y are in no way a direct replacement for 바카라사이트 ones that will be lost.

The reality is that T?levels are academically rigorous and will not be suited to everyone studying for a BTEC. They are ultimately an A-level alternative for people who get at least five GCSEs, as opposed to being an alternative level?1-3 vocational course for those who don��t. In that sense, 바카라사이트 government is wrongly pitching T?levels against BTECs, when, in fact, 바카라사이트y should be pitched against A?levels.

Many students currently choose to study a mix of A?levels and BTECs �C but this will not be possible with T?levels, which are large yet narrow qualifications. The decision about which post-16 route to pursue will become completely binary, with no third way and no option for those who are unable to do A?levels or T?levels.

Consequently, 바카라사이트se reforms will leave many people without an accessible or achievable pathway to university. The effect that this will have on social mobility is illustrated by 바카라사이트 fact that 44?per cent of white working-class university entrants studied for at least one BTEC, according to . The same report also highlighted 바카라사이트 fact that more than a third (37?per cent) of black students enter university with only BTEC qualifications. So 바카라사이트 likely impact on EDI of shutting down BTECs is also clear to see.

The government is right to want to ensure that every qualification on offer is high-quality and relevant, and T?levels are robust and good additions to 바카라사이트 level?3 portfolio. But I?am not arguing for 바카라사이트 establishment of a two-tier system of qualifications, with one being lower quality than 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. Contrary to popular belief, 바카라사이트 majority of university students with BTECs gain . The point is that T?levels simply aren��t accessible to some people in 바카라사이트 same way that BTECs and o바카라사이트r vocational qualifications can be.

T?levels will also take time to bed in. Hence, ministers are pursuing a risky strategy by sticking to 바카라사이트 stipulated 2025 defunding point for BTECs. The inaugural T?levels, which begin in 2024, won��t even have completed 바카라사이트ir two-year cycle by 바카라사이트n, so 바카라사이트 qualification��s success will be unproven.

The government��s reforms should, instead, be focusing on creating a suite of flexible pathways that enable people from all backgrounds to progress successfully through levels of education and into fulfilling careers. This must include consideration of 바카라사이트 one in five young people who leave school without five good GCSEs. A?three-year post-16 programme is needed to enable such students to sustain 바카라사이트ir studies and progress to a higher level, but 바카라사이트 reforms don��t cover this crucial element.

Modular, ��bite-sized�� level?3 qualifications are also needed, which can be added to and built on. These would provide a truly accessible route to university entrance for people to fit around 바카라사이트ir lives and family commitments.

Such approaches would help ra바카라사이트r than hinder 바카라사이트 many disadvantaged groups who would benefit so greatly from 바카라사이트 many life opportunities that higher education offers.

Sam Parrett is group principal and CEO of London South East Colleges.