Title: Vocational progression to higher education
1Vocational progression to higher education
Matthew Welbourn Professional Development Officer
2Setting the scene
- UCAS 2006 Scheme
- Total number of applicants 506,304
- Applicants receiving A level results 250,000
- Over 250,000 UK applicants annually apply
offering non A level threshold qualifications - HE progression
- 90 of young students with 2 A levels
- Approximately 45-50 of level 3 vocational
students - Only 1-2 of Advanced Apprenticeship students
progress to HE
32006 A level subjects by of total A level
entries
- English 10.8 (0.9)
- General Studies 7.3 (-0.7)
- Mathematics 6.9 (5.8)
- Biology 6.8 (1.7)
- Psychology 6.5 (5.2)
- History 5.8 (4.1)
- Art Design 5.2 (3.8)
- Chemistry 5.0 (3.1)
- Geography 4.0 (-0.9)
- Media Film Studies 3.8 (9.6)
- Source JCQ news release, 17 August 2006
42006 A level grades ( of overall total)
Grade
Source JCQ news release, 17 August 2006
52006 acceptances by degree subject ( change)
- Law 14,952 (-1.8)
- Design Studies 13,901 (-8.8)
- Psychology 13,083 (-4.5)
- Management Studies 11,538 (-2.6)
- Business Studies 10,691 (-1.7)
- Computer Science 9,987 (-7.3)
- English Studies 8,853 (-3.9)
- Pre-clinical Medicine 8,011 (2.4)
- Social Work 7,769 (6.5)
- Sports Science 7,759 (-1.4)
-
- Source UCAS final figures for 2006 entry, 18
January 2007
62007 applications by degree subject ( change)
- Law 84,860 (4.9)
- Psychology 77,040 (3.9)
- Pre-clinical Medicine 72,469 (-3.8)
- Management Studies 62,199 (11.1)
- English Studies 55,581 (7.6)
- Nursing 53,713 (3.9)
- Teacher Training 49,958 (3.3)
- Business Studies 46,970 (1.4)
- Social Work 46,891 (14.7)
- History 45,083 (1.8)
-
- Source UCAS applicant digest, 15 January 2007
7Vocational routes
- Vocational qualifications in context
- Focus on applied learning
- Employer involvement in some qualifications
- Usually delivered in colleges and some schools
8Issues connected to vocational students
- Some HEI admissions staff unsure about content
and equivalence - HEIs rarely have access to data about the
performance of vocational students, compared to A
level students - Disproportional numbers of vocational students
drawn from ethnic minority and lower
socio-economic groups - Clear information to applicants
9How some HEIs are responding
- A more positive approach to non A level students
when dealing with telephone enquiries - A more competency focused way of scoring the UCAS
form when short-listing - Entry Profiles used to make it clear that
vocational qualifications are welcome
10Vocational routes
- Englands vocational system subject to regular
change - Alphabet soup of acronyms
- Which qualifications are you familiar with?
- What are your perceptions of them?
11Vocational routes
- Access
- Advanced Apprenticeships
- Alternatives to GCSE
- AVCE (Applied A levels)
- Baccalaureate (International and Welsh)
- BTEC / OCR National Diplomas
- Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art Design)
- National Vocational Qualifications
- Key Skills
12GCSE in vocational subjects
- New Double Award GCSEs
- Equivalent to 2 GCSEs
- Paired grades AA - EE
- High level of take-up
- Provide vocational progression
- VCE / A level in applied subjects
- BTEC / OCR Nationals
- Advanced Apprenticeships
13GCSE in vocational subjects
- Subject availability
- Applied Art Design
- Applied Business
- Applied Information Communication Technology
- Applied Science
- Engineering
- Health Social Care
- Leisure Tourism
- Manufacturing
14Reform of AVCE
- Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education
(AVCE) - AVCE replaced Advanced GNVQ to provide vocational
element of Curriculum 2000 - AVCE re-worked along lines of GCE AS/A2 structure
from 2005 - Retitled as GCE A levels and AS in applied
subjects - Will first impact progression to HE in 2007 in
most cases
15Reform of AVCE
- Subject availability for GCE A level in applied
subjects - Applied Art Design
- Applied Business
- Applied ICT
- Applied Science
- Engineering (no double award)
- Health Social Care
- Leisure Studies
- Media Communication Production
- Performing Arts
- Travel Tourism
16Vocational progression
- Students with work experience but lacking
traditional entry qualifications could find
alternative routes into HE through - Foundation Year, or Foundation course
- Access to HE course
17Foundation courses
- Intermediate, work-related HE qualification
- Designed in conjunction with employers to meet
skills shortages - Flexible study methods make them available to
people already in work, unemployed people, or
those wanting to embark on a career change - On successful completion may choose to progress
to further professional qualifications or to an
honours degree
18Access to HE programmes
- Designed to prepare mature students for HE entry
in lieu of A levels etc - Delivered primarily in FE colleges and adult
education centres - some in HEIs - In practice being taken by some younger students
- Recognition Scheme operated by QAA nationally
since 1997 - All approved Access to HE programmes are listed
on the UCAS Access Courses database - www.ucas.com/access/index.html
19Access to HE programmes
- 28 Authorised Validating Agencies (AVAs) licensed
by QAA to validate Access programmes in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland - Approximately 1200 programmes currently
registered by the QAA - 40,000 students in England and Wales
20Access to HE programmes
- Some provide progression to specific HE course
area - Access to Healthcare
- Access to Nursing
- Access to Art Design
- Access to Applied Human Psychology
- Access to Law
- Some provide more general preparation for HE
level study - Access to Higher Education
- Access to Humanities Social Sciences
21Access to HE programmes
- Key features
- Subject modules or units
- Key skills
- Study skills
- Tutorial support
- Currently ungraded - grades not used as Access
programmes use criteria-referenced assessment - Successful students receive QAA Access to HE
certificate with some description of their
learning achievement
22Access to HE programmes
- Not currently in UCAS Tariff
- Recent review of Access to HE provision by QAA
possible national grading system would make
inclusion in Tariff possible
23Access to HE programmes
- New title for qualification Access to HE
Diploma (subject) - All Access courses unitised and credit-based
using common definitions - 2006 entry most students will offer present
Access to HE Certificate - 2007 entry mix of Certificates and new Diplomas
- 2008 entry all Access to HE Diplomas and credit
awarded to new specifications
24Expanding the UCAS Tariff
- First Stage (2002 2004)
- AVCE
- Three main Key Skills
- CACHE Diploma in Childcare Education
25Expanding the UCAS Tariff
- Second Stage (2005 onwards)
- BTEC / OCR Nationals
- Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art Design)
- Wider Key Skills
- Welsh Baccalaureate
26Expanding the UCAS Tariff
- For 2008 entry, the following qualifications will
come into the Tariff - Advanced Placement Programme
- British Horse Society
- Diploma in Fashion Retail
- Diploma in Financial Studies
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- iPRO Certificate and Diploma
- Speech and Drama Examinations
27Expanding the UCAS Tariff
- New qualifications are regularly being added to
the Tariff and it is UCAS aim to include as wide
a range of achievement used for entry to HE as
possible - International Baccalaureate (IB) included for
2008 entry - Top IB score awarded 768 UCAS Tariff points
- Most common IB score equates to AAAD at A level
- Source IBO news release, 6 July 2006
28(Specialised) diplomas
- Being developed by Diploma Development
Partnerships (DDPs) led by Sector Skills
Councils (SSCs), and involving DfES, QCA, HE,
practitioners and employers - First phase of development for 1st teaching 2008
- Information technology
- Engineering
- Society, health development
- Creative media
- Construction built environment
29(Specialised) diplomas
Level 4
Diploma in occupation Level 4
Foundation Degree
Degree
Diploma in occupation Level 4
Degree
Level 3
GCE A levels
New Diploma Level 3
Diploma in occupation Level 3
Certificate in occupation
Advanced Apprenticeship Diploma
Award in occupation
Level 2
Appship Diploma
GCSE A-C
New Diploma Level 2
Diploma in occupation Level 2
Certificate in occupation
Young Appship
Award in occupation
Level 1
New Diploma Level 1
Diploma in occupation Level 1
Certificate in occupation
GCSE D-G other provision
Award in occupation
Traditional route
New Diploma
Occupational route
Apprenticeship route
14-19 Qualifications
Mostly 16
Adult 16 FfA Qualifications
Source Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
30Questions
- Matthew Welbourn
- Professional Development Officer
- m.welbourn_at_ucas.ac.uk