22nd June 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
New research has revealed significant differences in the number of students studying A’ levels across England, with some areas having just 2% of students in the age bracket studying for A levels. The research, carried out by charity the New Schools Network for to support those seeking to set up new schools, suggests that in many poorer authorities, less than 20% of pupils go on to study A’ levels. This is in contrast to wealthier areas where up to 74% of students go on to study A’ Levels. The charity said that the research revealed a “glass ceiling on ambition.”
The figures revealed that Knowsley, which currently has just 2% of students studying for A’ Levels, could fall to zero as the last school in the area which offers A levels is closing its sixth form. Meanwhile in wealthy Harrow and Darlington, 74% and 71% respectively are studying for A’ levels, prompting concerns that opportunities are not being made available to students in poorer areas. Without A’ levels, students in poorer areas are being denied the opportunity to study university courses, and schools closures are making it increasingly difficult for students to access A’ level courses in poor areas. The New Schools Network said it was crucial that A’ Levels be made available to students who wish to study them.
The department for education has called the figures ‘misleading’, pointing out that many students travel to other boroughs to study A’ Levels. However, the researchers provided comprehensive data for all boroughs, which showed that authorities neighbouring boroughs with low uptake were also likely to have low uptake and low provision, meaning that students who do wish to take A’ Levels would have to compete more fiercely for places. Researchers concluded that the government needed to address a deep-seated problem in education, whereby young people from poorer areas were being denied access to the A’ Level courses they need in order to access jobs and higher education.