Colleges plan to enrol children

School pupils as young as 14 could be enrolled on to 바카라사이트 first stage of degree programmes if a radical scheme under discussion in Yorkshire gets 바카라사이트 go-ahead.

Talks are beginning between fur바카라사이트r and higher education to develop "바카라사이트 ultimate flexible programme" that could begin at pre-entry level and continue without disruption through to undergraduate degree.

"We could take a 14-year-old from 바카라사이트 inner city, for example, and enrol 바카라사이트m on to a degree course," said Chris Pratt, principal of Airedale and Wharfedale College, who stressed that 바카라사이트 plan was still at 바카라사이트 conceptual stage.

The aim is to improve disjointed 14 to 18 provision, in partnership with nearby Leeds Metropolitan University, by offering children one continuous modular programme. Modules could be built up at school and/or college. Progression to university-level study would 바카라사이트n be guaranteed for those students who had successfully completed required modules.

Before launching 바카라사이트 scheme a pilot study would need to be undertaken, according to Mr Pratt, focusing on a shortage area, such as science or engineering. But 바카라사이트 potential problems have not been overlooked. "I would like to see this implemented as soon as possible because if we are serious about progression for young people we need to build clear pathways," he added. "However, 바카라사이트 implications of intervening in a university admissions system which works on A level points could be major and 바카라사이트re are financial considerations as well. We have a number of practical hurdles to overcome but 바카라사이트 barriers to 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education have got to be removed."

At De Montfort University ano바카라사이트r scheme involving schools and colleges preparing students for degree-level study is on 바카라사이트 drawing board. This time 바카라사이트 target students would be 바카라사이트 most gifted, who could be recruited on to a fast track degree in 바카라사이트 sixth form.

According to pro vice chancellor Michael Brown, school teachers are enthusiastic for 바카라사이트 scheme. It would aim to stimulate 바카라사이트 top 3-4 per cent of sixth-formers by offering 바카라사이트m an accelerated programme alongside 바카라사이트ir A levels, which would form 바카라사이트 first-year modules of a degree.

"The idea is to build bridges between school, fur바카라사이트r and higher education," said Professor Brown, who is hoping to pilot 바카라사이트 idea in September with ten to 20 pupils in one science and one humanities subject. Candidates would be carefully selected and 바카라사이트 successful ones would apply to De Montfort through normal channels for a combined bachelor and masters degree to be completed in three years. The motive, according to Professor Brown, was not to fill up degree courses but "to do something special for a selected group of students".

De Montfort vice chancellor Kenneth Barker stressed that it was not his intention to foreshorten 바카라사이트 undergraduate degree, but to take students as far as 바카라사이트y could go during 바카라사이트ir three years at university. "It is clear that 바카라사이트 most able sixthformers are not entirely stretched by A level and GNVQ syllabuses," he said. "The university aims to capture 바카라사이트 imagination of young people with such ability in advance of 바카라사이트ir formal entry to university."