Young people receiving their GCSE results this week are being encouraged to remember that there is no single route to a successful career – and that the choices they make at 16 do not necessarily close doors later in life.
University of Gloucestershire has welcomed the Government’s recent commitment to put technical education on an equal footing with more traditional academic routes, including plans to give young people earlier access to technical education, work experience and employers.
Announcing the plans last month, the Government says the reforms are intended to ensure there are “no dead ends” for young people, whether they ultimately choose university, an apprenticeship, further education or skilled employment.
Dame Clare Marchant, Vice-Chancellor of University of Gloucestershire, said the announcement should reassure young people considering their next steps after GCSEs.
“GCSE Results Day can feel enormously significant, particularly if a young person hasn’t achieved the grades they were hoping for. But the important message is that there are many different routes to a successful future, and the decisions you make at 16 do not have to define what you can do at 18, 21 or beyond.
“A levels remain an excellent choice for many young people, but they are far from the only option. Technical and vocational qualifications, including T Levels, can lead to skilled employment and apprenticeships, but they can also provide a route into higher education.
“So, if university is something you might want to consider in the future, choosing a different route at 16 does not necessarily mean closing that door.”
T Levels are Level 3 qualifications equivalent in size to three A levels and combine classroom study with a substantial industry placement. They carry UCAS tariff points and can provide progression to university as well as skilled employment and higher-level apprenticeships.
Dame Clare Marchant said the Government’s focus on technical education also provided an opportunity to move beyond an outdated distinction between “academic” and “technical” skills.
She said: “We absolutely agree that technical skills should be valued and celebrated. And I don’t think we should see technical skills and higher-level skills as competing alternatives.
“The economy increasingly needs people who have both: people with practical, industry-relevant skills who can also think critically, solve complex problems, innovate and adapt as technology and workplaces change.
“That is very much the approach we take at University of Gloucestershire. Our courses are developed with industry and designed to give students opportunities to apply their learning in real-world settings. Depending on their subject, that might mean placements, live projects, simulations, professional facilities, working with employers or using the same technologies and techniques they will encounter in their careers.
“A university education should not simply be about acquiring knowledge. It should be about developing the knowledge, technical capabilities and wider skills needed to build a successful career.”
The University says this strong focus on employability is reflected in its graduate outcomes. The latest Graduate Outcomes survey showed that nearly 94% of University of Gloucestershire graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after completing their course, placing it amongst the best universities in the country for this important measure.
Dame Clare Marchant added: “For young people opening their GCSE results, the most important thing is not to feel that there is only one ‘right’ next step.
“Whether you choose A levels, a T Level, another Level 3 qualification or an apprenticeship, there are opportunities to progress and change direction as your ambitions develop.
“Results Day is an important milestone, but it is not a verdict on your future. There are many routes to developing the skills employers need – and, for those who want it, university can still be part of that journey.”
