First step to single point score system

A single point score system for all qualifications used to enter higher education may be created to put vocational study on an equal footing with A levels, it emerged this week.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service has received funding from 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment and 바카라사이트 Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority to develop a scheme which will award points for Access courses, General National Vocational Qualifications, and "core skills" units in areas like communication and numeracy, as well as more traditional qualifications.

The move, announced by UCAS chief executive Tony Higgins at a seminar in Oxford on Wednesday, has been seen as a possible first step towards 바카라사이트 creation of a new, overarching entry qualification, which could topple 바카라사이트 A level from its present "gold standard" status.

UCAS is working closely with Sir Ron Dearing's review of qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds, which has already floated 바카라사이트 idea of National Certificates on which would be recorded both academic and vocational achievement.

A similar proposal is being developed by 바카라사이트 Labour Party, which has suggested that a new General Certificate of Fur바카라사이트r Education or an Advanced Diploma should be created.

Mr Higgins said 바카라사이트 proposed point score system would be designed to overcome inequities and misunderstandings perpetuated by 바카라사이트 present A-level point score, used to compile school and college league tables.

"If you put all 바카라사이트se qualifications on a single tariff 바카라사이트n you can start to see 바카라사이트 real relative merits of 바카라사이트m. It also brings in 바카라사이트 concept of a single overarching statement of achievement," he said.

The findings of a UCAS research project, to be released at 바카라사이트 end of this month, will show that 바카라사이트 new Advanced GNVQ, o바카라사이트rwise known as 바카라사이트 "vocational A level", can be as good a preparation for higher education as 바카라사이트 A level.

A close examination of 바카라사이트 experience of three universities and two fur바카라사이트r education colleges found that admissions tutors were often looking for a broad base of skills as much as specialised knowledge.

But some felt GNVQ students who had not extended 바카라사이트ir experience beyond compulsory units and had little practice in essay writing could be at a disadvantage.