Students who take more diverse A-levels earn more money than their peers, a new report has found mid warnings government reforms are narrowing subject choice.

Here’s what you need to know from the Education Policy Institute report, commissioned by Royal Society, into A-level subject choice. 

1.           A-level subject choices ‘narrowest since 2010’

Researchers categorised qualifications over five main subject groups: sciences, maths, languages, humanities and vocational. For each student they then counted the number of qualifications in each of these subject groups, to create a breadth score.

The proportion of students with qualifications spanning three or more of the five main subject groups halved from 38 per cent in 2010, to 17 per cent in 2019.

The fall mainly took place between 2016 and 2019 – with a 14 percentage point drop. In comparison, the proportion of students taking qualifications from only one or two subject groups increased by eight and six percentage points respectively.

Since 2017, the average student now takes A-levels in fewer than two subject groups. Only one in 100 students qualifications from four or more subject groups, compared to 1 in 10 in 2010.

Report author David Robinson said the education sixth form and college students receive is “already narrower than in most developed countries, but our research shows that over the last decade, it has continued to become even more restricted in the diversity of subjects taken.”

2.           Gove reforms and funding cuts driving change

EPI says the decline in subject diversity “very closely” follows a drop in the number of qualifications taken – the average number of qualifications fell by 43 per cent between 2016 to 2019, from five to three.

Researchers say this has been driven by Michael Gove’s reforms to decouple AS-levels in 2015 and a reduction in funding since 2010.

Entries for AS-level fell dramatically again this year to 53,300 down 33 per cent from 86,970 in 2020. Since 2017, the number of AS-level entries has fallen by 91 per cent.

EPI said the 16-19 funding formula also plays a role by providing no incentives to offer an AS level alongside their main three A-levels.

This has resulted in the total number of teaching hours decreasing by eight per cent or around 71 hours per student, the report says.

3.           More subjects could mean higher earnings

The research indicated that 26-year-olds who had studied qualifications from at least two subject groups in the 16-19 phase went on to have earnings three or four percent higher than those who studied qualifications from only one group.

After controlling for prior attainment and other characteristics, the difference had a similar impact to the university a student attended, or their socio-economic background, researchers said.

EPI said that while the effect appears small, “we must consider that we are measuring earnings early in an individual’s career”. Data is not yet available for those in their 30s, but EPI wants to measure this when it is to see if the trend continues.

Robinson said there is a “concern” that is the narrowing of provision continues “many students could miss out on the broad range of skills needed to navigate the future labour market”.

4.           Some students hit harder than others

On average, students achieving a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths take qualifications from one subject group, while students achieving grade 7 or above take qualifications from two or more areas.

Both disadvantaged students and students with special education needs are less likely to study a broad range of subjects, the report found.

Also, while students from Chinese and Indian heritage study the broadest range of subjects (2 on average), Black Caribbean and Gypsy or Roma students study the narrowest (1.5).

EPI said this is “concerning” and requires “further attention” from policymakers.

5.           ‘Wholesale review’ of 16-19 funding needed

EPI said the government must undertake a “wholesale review” of 16-19 funding to reverse the fall in provision and breadth.

They have renewed calls for greater funding for young people from low income or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Researchers added: “When the government undertook their reforms of A and AS levels they were keen to preserve the additional breadth offered by AS levels.

“This clearly has not happened. The government must act to ensure that England’s already uniquely narrow 16-19 provision is not squeezed further still.”

DfE have been approached for comment.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has announced it will finally launch a market entry exercise to expand the number of providers offering 16 to 18 traineeships “later this month”.

It comes two days after the Treasury revealed the government had missed its target to triple the number of people taking the pre-employment by more than half.

In its weekly update, published today, the ESFA said the opportunity will be open to training organisations “not currently contracted or allocated delivery of 16 to 19 study programme activity or 16 to 18 traineeship provision”.

The agency is “particularly interested” in applications from training providers “ready to deliver traineeships and have the capacity to deliver a high-quality programme to young people”.

To be eligible, providers must be rated by Ofsted as either ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ and hold another ESFA contract for the 2021/22 academic year.

However, the agency said it will “consider existing traineeship providers that have a 19 to 24 traineeship 2021 to 2022 contract without an Ofsted grade one or two”.

Providers must not be in formal intervention, not been issued with a notice to improve, not be subject to an investigation for breach of contract and/or failed audit in the past three years, and not have a financial health grade of ‘inadequate’.

The ESFA has been promising a 16 to 18 traineeship market entry exercise all year but has so far failed to launch one despite running a procurement to expand the 19 to 24 traineeship provider base.

A progress report for the chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs, which earmarked £111 million for up to 36,700 additional traineeships in 2020/21, was published this week and revealed there were only 17,000 traineeship starts last year – 46 per cent of the target.

There were 14,900 traineeship starts in 2019/20 – so the numbers only increased by 14 per cent last year despite £1,000 incentives being offered to employers and a raft of changes to funding rules to make the programmes more flexible.

Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive Jane Hickie said news of the 16 to 18 exercise was “better late than never”.

“But there is one major proviso – today’s announced procurement must take place quickly and the contract awarding process has to keep to schedule,” she added.

“Otherwise the chancellor’s faith in the programme will not be repaid in the way that it should.”

A newly formed college has appointed an experienced troubleshooter as its interim chief executive.

City of Portsmouth College, which launched last month following a merger between Portsmouth College and crisis-hit Highbury College, has named Graham Morley as its new leader.

He takes over from the college’s current interim chief, Penny Wycherley, who stepped in to steer Highbury College in December 2019 after its principal quit following an expenses scandal and government intervention.

Wycherley will be retiring next month.

Morley has extensive experience in providing high-level support to boards and senior teams of colleges, particularly in times of organisational change.

He took over Hadlow and its sister provider West Kent and Ashford College in February 2019 ahead of the colleges being the first to go into education administration.

Previously, he was interim principal at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, and principal of Cannock Chase Technical College and South Staffordshire College.

Most recently, he worked as interim principal at Ruskin College after its long-serving principal was suspended.

Paul Quigley, chair of City of Portsmouth College, said: “On behalf of the board, college staff and wider college community, I would like to warmly welcome Graham to our amazing college. Graham’s wealth of further education experience is invaluable to our newly formed organisation, and I very much look forward to working together.”

He added that he would like to “whole heartedly thank” Wycherley for her “outstanding leadership, she has been instrumental in shaping the future of Highbury College and the City of Portsmouth”.

“Penny’s dedication and commitment to the college has been unwavering in exceptional circumstances and Penny’s impact should not be underestimated.”

 

‘I’m delighted to have been appointed’

Morley said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as interim chief executive of the City of Portsmouth College and to continue, and build upon, the excellent work initiated by Penny over the past couple of years or so.

“I’m particularly pleased to join you following the recent merger between Portsmouth College and Highbury College. This merger clearly offers those we serve in Portsmouth, and the surrounding area, a great future as we bring together the best of what each pre-merger institution has to offer into a single, high-performing team.”

A spokesperson said that for the 2021/22 academic year, Highbury College and Portsmouth College will operate under their existing brand identities.

In September 2022, a new City of Portsmouth College brand is due to launch.

A long-standing college principal has retired with immediate effect due to a terminal illness.

John Callaghan, who has led Solihull College & University Centre for the past seven years, stepped down yesterday.

He has worked in the further education and skills sector for over 33 years, holding roles at four different colleges as well as a spell at the Learning and Skills Council.

In an email to local stakeholders, seen by FE Week, Solihull College’s chair of governors Barbara Hughes said: “I am sad to inform you that John Callaghan is retiring immediately due to ill health. John has a terminal illness.

“John has been an excellent principal at Solihull over the last seven years, highly valued by students, staff, stakeholders and the local community.

“I appreciate the news of John’s retirement and illness is surprising and distressing. I’m sure you join me in wishing John every possible happiness and comfort as he spends time with his family.”

Lindsey Stewart, Solihull College’s deputy principal, has been appointed as acting principal. Recruitment for a permanent principal will take place early in the New Year, Hughes said.

According to his biography of Solihull College’s website, Callaghan started his career with Birmingham City Council in 1977 and trained as a software specialist.

He joined Tamworth & Lichfield College in 1988 and worked as vice principal while also being seconded part time to the Learning and Skill Council for a period.

Derby College was Callaghan’s next destination where he was vice principal before having a short spell in the private sector. He re-joined Derby College in 2006 as deputy principal before joining North East Worcestershire College in 2010 as principal.

He then became principal of Solihull College & University Centre in June 2014 and successfully led a challenging merger with Stratford-Upon-Avon College in 2017 following the Coventry and Warwickshire area review.

During this time, Callaghan has also been appointed as president of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce. He is also the FE principal’s representative for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Hughes said Callaghan leaves Solihull College, which is rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted, in an “excellent position ready for the future, with high quality teaching and learning, invaluable support to students, sound and secure finances and an extremely well-managed organisation at all levels”.

She added: “The past year of Covid has been one of the most challenging for the college and it is to John’s credit that the pandemic has been managed with compassion, clarity and safety.”

The college is producing a tribute book for Callaghan to thank him for his service and dedication.