A-level alternatives on rise
ALTERNATIVE qualifications to A-levels are becoming increasingly popular in private schools, with record numbers of pupils taking BTECs this year, research reveals.
Data published by the Independent Schools Council shows a rise in the number of schools where pupils are taking courses either alongside, or as alternatives, to A-levels.
Council chairman Barnaby Lenon suggested schools are becoming more aware of the range of qualifications on offer for sixth-formers.
The ISC’s figures show that A-levels are still by far the most popular courses, with 480 independent schools reporting that pupils had taken the exams this year. Just over 34,100 candidates took at least one A-level.
The statistics also show the proportion of fee-paying schools saying pupils are taking BTECs – a practical, vocational qualification – has gone up by 82 per cent over the past three years.
This year 93 schools had pupils studying the courses, up from 51 in 2015. In addition, the statistics show that 1,112 students took at least one BTEC this year, compared with 694 three years ago.
Mr Lenon said: “The BTEC has grown from a very small number to a larger number.
“That has happened because it has become recognised that the BTEC is now the normal route into university for quite a lot of students. Schools have realised that some pupils benefit from doing practical courses.
“For example, if you’re very keen on engineering, you would do a BTEC, and you can go to university to study engineering with a BTEC.”
The figures also show the numbers of schools reporting results for the extended project qualification (EPQ) increased by 26 per cent since 2015, and that there were 6,318 candidates taking it this year compared with 3,202 three years ago. The EPQ is a dissertation-style qualification often taken alongside A-levels.
Mr Lenon said: “The EPQ has grown massively. That is because with the de-coupling of AS-levels from A-levels, many schools decided to go down from four to three A-levels and to fill the gap with the EPQ, because they knew that universities really like the EPQ. It is a dissertation and you often have to do a dissertation at university.
Abolition
“This is the only way, with the abolition of coursework at A-level, you could demonstrate to a university you are capable of doing independent research and writing a dissertation.”
Another course to see a rise in popularity this year, is the Pre-U – an academic alternative to A-levels, with 92 schools reporting results, up from 49 in 2015.