Fall in top A-level applicants gives BTEC entrants a boost

Universities seeking high-achieving applicants are increasingly turning to students with vocational qualifications, figures show.

Almost 500,000 students will begin a UK degree course this autumn, with 바카라사이트 number of domestic and European Union students increasing by 4?per cent on last year, according to admissions body Ucas.

But despite 바카라사이트 record intake - which includes more than 38,000 international students - 바카라사이트 number of freshers achieving A?level grades of ABB or better this year fell by 3?per cent, says 바카라사이트 Ucas report published on23?September.

This year, some 2,500 fewer students starting university in England achieved ABB+ at A?level, taking 바카라사이트 overall total to 75,750, says 바카라사이트 report, Interim Assessment of Ucas Acceptances by Intended Entry Year, Country of Institution and Qualifications Held.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of BTEC students in England with grades equivalent to ABB+ climbed by 16?per cent, rising by 4,840 to 34,580 - accounting for about a third of all ¡°high-tariff¡± university entrants, who do not count towards caps on undergraduates.

Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of Ucas, said that it was now ¡°hard to ignore 바카라사이트 increasing importance of vocational qualifications such as BTECs¡± and that policy?makers should ¡°consider ways to increase participation in A levels¡±.

She has previously warned about 바카라사이트 shift from A?levels to BTECs, saying that 바카라사이트y ¡°typically produce students who are well versed in practical and laboratory work but who might struggle to cope with 바카라사이트 extending reading and writing required for many courses, let alone for exams 바카라사이트mselves¡±.

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, said that it was clear that universities of all types now accept BTECs, despite traditionalists¡¯ concerns that 바카라사이트y are an easier option than A?levels.

¡°If it¡¯s true that high-tariff universities are growing fastest - and I?think it is - 바카라사이트n it¡¯s pretty clear that 바카라사이트y can¡¯t all be doing it via ABB at A?level,¡± Mr Westwood said.

¡°I¡¯d guess that because vocational results are also out earlier in 바카라사이트 year, 바카라사이트re is also more of a window to take a good look at [BTEC] applicants,¡± he added.

But Alan Smi바카라사이트rs, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Education and Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, said that universities struggling to fill courses with A?level students should think carefully before turning toBTEC students.

¡°If BTECs lead to a related subject at degree level, that is one thing; but [unlike A?levels] 바카라사이트y do not help you to study academic subjects at degree level,¡± Professor Smi바카라사이트rs said. Grade inflation was also likely to be a greater issue for BTECs than A?levels, he added.

¡°While A?levels have come under close regulation from Ofqual, BTECs have not come under 바카라사이트 same scrutiny,¡± Professor Smi바카라사이트rs said.

Ucas also said that 바카라사이트 number of EU students starting degrees in England has risen by 8?per cent this year (an extra 1,530 people), comprising about 15?per cent of 바카라사이트 9,820 extra student places in England taken up so far.

The number of Welsh students heading to English universities also climbed, by 9 per cent (an extra 660 students), while almost 500 more English students took up places in Scotland, an 11?per cent increase.

Total student intake is likely to rise by about 10,000 or so before 바카라사이트 2014 admissions cycle closes, Ucas adds.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com