College students who miss out on uni placements might go for apprenticeships as an alternative
Clare Marchant, chief govt of Ucas, stated the chance for children to earn whereas they study on the job might change into extra enticing than in earlier years.
Hundreds of 1000’s of scholars in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will obtain their A-level outcomes on Thursday.
Asked whether or not cost-of-living pressures might result in extra selecting an apprenticeship quite than a conventional diploma, Ms Marchant stated: “I think it’s definitely more acute. The cohort that have come to Ucas – who want to apply for an undergraduate course – it is not something that’s deterring them from that.
“The question is, when the chips are down come August 17, do we see a cohort then switch to apprenticeships if they don’t get their first choice? Potentially.
“The earn while you learn versus going to university might seem an even more attractive option than it has in the past.”
Ucas has seen curiosity in apprenticeships improve “year on year” by its Career Finder web site which permits folks to seek for apprenticeship alternatives, Ms Marchant stated.
If college students don’t safe a college place on A-level outcomes day, the upper training admissions service will signpost them to Career Finder in addition to to clearing, which matches candidates to school slots but to be stuffed.
Ms Marchant stated: “There’ll be a number of different things they’ll be signposted to in terms of what their next step might be.
“If you look at the apprenticeships options, pretty much every big national employer has got apprenticeships up there. You know, from Coca-Cola to Virgin to Deloitte to BA to Jaguar Land Rover, they’re all there. Of course they’re highly competitive as well.
“We talk to lots and lots of employers who see the summer as a time that they can get some real talent.”
From this autumn, faculty leavers will have the ability to discover apprenticeship alternatives alongside undergraduate programs by the Ucas web site.
Prospective college students will have the ability to apply for apprenticeships by Ucas in addition to an undergraduate diploma software from autumn 2024.
It comes as college students whose A-level outcomes have been graded by their academics in the course of the pandemic are dropping out of college in document numbers. Close to 30 p.c are stated to be quitting some extent programs.
This A-level outcomes day is anticipated to point out decrease grades after Covid-19 led to a rise in 2020 and 2021, primarily based on trainer assessments as an alternative of exams.
Gillian Keegan wrote: “During the pandemic, results were higher because of the way grades were assessed – now grades will be lower than last year and more similar to 2019. Pupils and parents might wonder why.
“It is vital that qualifications hold value so that universities and employers understand the distinction between grades when recruiting, and pupils get the opportunities they deserve.”
It is believed many college students who have been awarded extra beneficiant A-level grades in the course of the pandemic have struggled to manage at college.