College favoured for sixth form
RECORD numbers of pupils in Wales are opting for college instead of returning to school after GCSEs, a new report reveals.
The Careers Wales Destination of School Leavers 2016 report, which surveyed around 60,000 Year 11, 12 and 13 pupils in Wales, shows that for the first time since the survey began in 2012, progressing to college is the more popular choice for those leaving Year 11 than school.
Last year 51% went on to college after GCSEs compared to 49% in 2015.
And full-time education is a more popular choice than work for teenagers.
Last summer 87% of Welsh pupils in Years 11, 12 and 13 chose to remain in full-time education after results days.
The figures also show a year-onyear rise in Year 13 leavers opting for university in 2016 compared with 2015, with 62.4% of pupils surveyed choosing this route after A-levels in 2016.
This includes a much higher proportion of females than males – 66.5% compared with 57.6%.
But last year’s rise in university applications is not echoed this year according to data from university admissions survey UCAS last month showing university applications to and from Wales in 2017 have fallen.
Applications from Wales dropped 5% in 2017 compared with 2016 with fewer 18-year-olds applying to start courses this September, according to the UCAS figures.
Of all pupils in Years 11, 12 and 13, only 8.2% went straight into the labour market after picking up their exam results in 2016, the Careers Wales report shows.
The proportion of Year 13 leavers entering the jobs market fell by 2.4%, largely accounted for by the increase in the proportion of Year 13 leavers opting to go to higher education (HE), either directly or following a gap year, the document says.
Careers Wales released its findings as it prepares to help young people choose their options as thousands gear up to receive A-level results this week and GCSE results next week.
Iestyn Davies, chief executive of ColegauCymru/CollegesWales, which represents all 14 further education colleges and institutions in Wales, said rising numbers opting for college over school sixth form reflected expanding tertiary provision and opportunities across Wales.
Torfaen County Borough Council is the latest education authority in Wales to look at providing all its sixth form learning in college rather than school.
It proposes a sixth form centre jointly run with Coleg Gwent to open from September 2019.
The council’s cabinet approved plans for the £20m, 1,000 place college in Cwmbran but the proposal is subject to Welsh Government approval.
The plans – under the 21st Century Schools programme — would affect Croesyceiliog School, Cwmbran High and St Alban’s Roman Catholic High School and sixth form closures are recommended by September 2019.
Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Caerphilly already operate college sixth form only while Pembrokeshire College gives increasing support to school sixth forms in its area.
In Cardiff, the Cardiff and Vale College also offers 14 to 16 pathways for learners to study at college even earlier.
Mr Davies said “lines have been blurred” with some students doing subjects at school and college.
“We are seeing a shift to FE college across Wales. It is important we get the best outcomes for leavers and the provision relevant to them.”
But he said further change may come with numbers of 16 to 19-yearolds set to fall in future.
“Of the 170,000 leavers in the FE system half are over 25. We need to recognise numbers of 16 to 19-yearolds will decrease and what that will mean.”
Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James, said: “It’s normal to feel slightly overwhelmed after picking up exam results, and we want to make sure it’s as easy as possible to find out about all the options available to young people in Wales.”