Universities ditch list of ‘top’ A-levels

LEADING universities yesterday announced they are scrapping their list of preferred A-level subjects – amid criticism it discredits arts subjects.

The 24 Russell Group universities have, for the last seven years, published a list of ‘facilitating subjects’ that pupils should study at A-level to secure a place on a prestigious degree course.

These are English literature, maths and further maths, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, history, languages and classics.

The list was drawn up to help pupils make informed decisions about their path to further education. But critics say it sidelines subjects such as art, music and drama – harming the creative industries.

The Russell Group insists the list was never intended to be a set of hard-and-fast requirements. On its website, it said: ‘We have sometimes heard other people suggest that facilitating subjects are the only subjects pupils should consider to get into a Russell Group university, or that you must take them for any degree. This has never been the case.’

Russell Group universities include Oxford and Cambridge, leading University of London colleges and other institutions such as Warwick, York and Durham.

This year the group launched its Informed Choices website, which it says allows students to explore the various degrees and subject areas they are interested in.

Jacqui O’Hanlon, of the Cultural Learning Alliance and the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: ‘Scrapping the old facilitating subjects list and providing comprehensive, nuanced and interactive guidance is a clear message to students, parents and schools: Studying the arts can offer a route to a wide range of different careers and fields of study.’

Advocates of the list have frequently claimed it has helped stop students from taking the A-levels which leave them struggling to get on to academic courses.