Vocational Background is the Best Route to Educational Honours

Two leading North West academics have found that having A-levels has no bearing on what class of degree students will achieve at University. The research, by Dr Richard Ralley and Dr Lesley Sumner from Edge Hill University, has found that students with A-levels who go straight to university from school or college are more likely to complete their degrees, but having those A-levels will not improve their degree score. Although students from a vocational background are less likely to attend university, they are more likely to achieve a better degree than their A-level counterparts if they do. Furthermore, students who get the best degrees are those who take a break from studying before starting university.

The study looked at the results of 216 university students following graduation and compared whether they had come from a vocational background or had taken the traditional A-level route. The report, which is due for publication later this year presents a major blow to the present A-level system and adds further weight to those who value vocational courses as an alternative to the traditional educational pathways.

Edge Hill?s reputation for widening participation in higher education, attracting students from non-traditional backgrounds, means that it is well placed to explore and understand the experience of those students that the government has targeted with its widening participation agenda.

The authors of the study believe that questions will now be asked as to whether the current university admissions system needs to be overhauled. If students who plan to attend university get no benefit from A-levels, it might be better for them to choose a vocational course for two years following the completion of their GCSEs.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Ralley said: "This study could prove to be a real turning point into how A-levels are perceived and the kudos that is given to vocational courses. It has been long assumed that the most effective way to achieve a good degree is to sit A-levels first. However, this research indicates that this is not the case. Whilst there are undoubted benefits to sitting A-levels, getting a good degree is not necessarily one of them and it may be that we need an in-depth review of how to help our students achieve the best possible degree from university."

Report: The experience of young people in higher education: factors influencing withdrawal (pdf)