Real alternative to the ‘gold standard’ A-level is needed

IN August it is traditional for the media to focus heavily on the national exam results, particularly the Key Level 3 results that mark the end of compulsory education at 18. Traditionally this has mainly been focused on A-levels but the last government's push towards a technical qualification to rival these has pushed aside a slew of BTECs with a long pedigree.

- Neil Walker

The T-level, championed by Labour too, has seen a big jump in the number of candidates taking the exam. Unfortunately, it also demonstrates nearly a third of candidates drop out before completing the course, which suggests that either the content is not engaging for pupils, or there is a fundamental problem with the structure of the courses.

This is a big disappointment when the Department for Education are continuing down the route of removing funding for more vocational alternatives, leaving millions of 16-year-olds with only poor alternatives to choose. A-levels may be the ‘gold standard’ but they are not appropriate for everyone. England needs to look carefully at a real alternative it is prepared to support and fund.

‘The pandemic’s impact on schooling continues to rumble on.

This year’s A-level cohort missed much of their foundation learning in Key Stage 3, but were the first group to complete and sit GCSE exams post-Covid.