HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007
The Road Less Travelled
Vocational Qualifications and HE Entry
Anthony McClaran
Chief Executive
Overview
 Analysis
 Goals
 Obstacles
 Progression
 Questions and discussion
Analysis
 A level progression rate to HE : 84%
 Vocational level 3 progression rate to HE : 51%
(Source: Youth Cohort Study 11)
Analysis
Characteristics of vocational applicants through the UCAS service
A level
Level 3 vocational
Russell Group
88.9%
4.6%
Post - 92
universities
59.4%
25.9%
Independent
Schools
93.1%
1.8%
FE Colleges
39.1%
35.3%
18 year olds
91.8%
18.5%
20 year olds
36%
27%
Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit
Analysis
Characteristics of vocational applicants through the UCAS service
A level
Level 3 vocational
Higher SEGs
80.1%
15.8%
Lower SEGs
68.6%
26.8%
White
applicants
72.7%
19.1%
Asian
applicants
73.3%
24.7%
Black
applicants
43.2%
24.6%
Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit
Analysis
subject
Percentage of accepted applicants with L3 vocational qualifications
Subject Areas (2006 entry)
education
creative arts,design
history,philosophy
european languages
mass comms & doc
business,admin
law
social studies
technology
engineering
maths,comp science
physical sciences
vet science,agriculture
subjects allied to medicine
medicine,dentistry
0
10
20
percentage
Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit
30
40
Goals
The Schwartz Report - “Fair admissions to higher
education: recommendations for good practice” : 2004
The Steering Group believes a fair admissions system is
one that provides equal opportunity for all individuals,
regardless of background, to gain admission to a course
suited to their ability and aspirations.
Goals
The Leitch Report
‘Prosperity for all in the global economy:
world class skills’ (December 2006)
 4 objectives for 2020
i.
95% of adults to achieve the basic skills of functional
literacy and numeracy
ii.
More than 90% of adults qualified to at least Level 2
iii.
Shifting the balance of intermediate skills from Level
2 to Level 3
iv. Exceeding
above
40% of adults qualified to Level 4 and
Goals
 Objective iv: Exceeding 40% of adults qualified to
Level 4 and above

Up from 29% in 2005 with a commitment to
continue progression

Unlikely to be achieved by further expansion of
current model of HE

Rebalance the priorities of HEIs to make
available relevant, flexible and responsive
provision that meets the high skills needs of
employers and their staff
Barriers
Personal
 Poorer information, advice and guidance about entry
to HE available to students on vocational routes
 Unfamiliarity with HE, low aspirations and lack of
confidence amongst vocational learners
 The ‘motorway’ versus the “winding country road”
Barriers
Structural
 Perceived lack of parity (between vocational and academic
pathways)
 HEIs lack knowledge of:

vocational qualifications and their curricula

subject relevance of vocational qualifications
 Entry requirements do not provide clarity for applicants
with vocational qualifications
 Perception that applicants with vocational qualifications will
not have the ability or commitment to succeed in HE
Barriers
“There is an uneven awareness and response
to the increasing diversity of applicants,
qualifications and pathways to HE”
Professor Steven Schwartz, 2004
Progression
Helping individuals
 Aimhigher

Awareness

Aspirations

Attainment
 Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs)

Collaboration between HE and FE

Guidance and support for learners on vocational
pathways
Progression
Structural changes
 Good practice by HEIs

Positive messages in publicity material

Improving curriculum fit between degrees and Level 3
qualifications

Researching and monitoring admissions and progression


UCAS data
Clarity of entry requirements
 UCAS Entry Profiles

UCAS Tariff
 Role of SPA
Progression
Structural changes
 UCAS Entry Profiles

94% of home students and 96% of international students
stated that EPs were either extremely helpful or helpful within
the application process

In finding out about courses in HE the two most used sources
of information were EPs on UCAS Course Search and HEIs
websites, with EPs being used by 84% of all respondents to
the question
Source: Supporting Professionalism in Admissions Programme (SPA), 2006

Delivery Partnership Steering Group Targets:

75% coverage by September 2007

100% coverage by September 2009
Progression
Structural changes
 UCAS Tariff

“The provision of the UCAS Tariff appears to
have had a positive effect on the acceptance of
qualifications other than GCE A levels – VCEs in
particular – by admissions staff”
Source: Action on Access 2006

Currently undergoing review
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the road less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
First published 1916
HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007
Any Questions
?
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive
Rosehill, New Barn Lane
Cheltenham GL52 3LZ
t: +44 (0) 1242 544990
f: +44 (0) 1242 544959
e: [email protected]