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In a few years, the A Level pass rate will be 100%. Universities will have to trawl through thousands of University-length essays in order to discern which students should be accepted, because a grade of all As just isn't good enough to guarantee a place anymore. Despite this, students and teachers all say that the bad press A Levels get is demoralising to the people working so hard to get the good grades...can't they just admit that it's getting easier? Modules mean that one bad day for a test won't wreck your grade, which is something I definitely agree with; but spouting this fact every single time doesn't change the figures we hear every August. A pass in A Levels is a grade from A to E. How can an E grade be considered a success? Everybody says that dismissing sets of grades like four As is an insult to students, but that simply isn't true. It's not the students' fault, they can only pass what they are sitting. But when you can get the perfect, maximum score and still have to jump through another hoop to get your desired University placement something is wrong with the system. Chris Woodhead mixes his stance on education with his stance on politics, but his ideas seem to be the ones that a lot of the public would like to see implemented. Indeed, perhaps the best suggestion is to simply go back to the old GCE and O Level system that worked just fine for the last generation.
And then there's University itself. I listened to a good program on the radio last night where the subject of learning for the sake of learning came up a lot. University is clearly an incredible experience that millions find improves their life - people walk out after a degree as a different person. But this option is becoming less viable every year, as more obstacles are put in the way of potential graduates. My year will be the first to get the new tuition fees. The sliding scale system basically makes it pointless to get a degree, because any improved wages you might earn are simply skimmed to pay for the degree itself. As the years of quota-filling catches up with the country, we will end up with over half of people going to University, but nobody able to screw in a lightbulb or fix a tap. Nowadays it is easier to walk into a highly paid job after a vocational course in plumbing than it is to get any sort of job with a good degree. People are coming out with these qualifications but without basic skills, such as the ability to fill out an application form. So what's the point of getting a degree anymore, when it is becoming devalued and even unhelpful?
I'm getting very worried about my 'grand plan' of getting to University, finishing with good results and getting a job I enjoy. And to make matters worse, I might be expected to write several thousand words of an essay to submit in my application, along with three years' worth of work. Perhaps I should go into mechanics.
And then there's University itself. I listened to a good program on the radio last night where the subject of learning for the sake of learning came up a lot. University is clearly an incredible experience that millions find improves their life - people walk out after a degree as a different person. But this option is becoming less viable every year, as more obstacles are put in the way of potential graduates. My year will be the first to get the new tuition fees. The sliding scale system basically makes it pointless to get a degree, because any improved wages you might earn are simply skimmed to pay for the degree itself. As the years of quota-filling catches up with the country, we will end up with over half of people going to University, but nobody able to screw in a lightbulb or fix a tap. Nowadays it is easier to walk into a highly paid job after a vocational course in plumbing than it is to get any sort of job with a good degree. People are coming out with these qualifications but without basic skills, such as the ability to fill out an application form. So what's the point of getting a degree anymore, when it is becoming devalued and even unhelpful?
I'm getting very worried about my 'grand plan' of getting to University, finishing with good results and getting a job I enjoy. And to make matters worse, I might be expected to write several thousand words of an essay to submit in my application, along with three years' worth of work. Perhaps I should go into mechanics.
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Basically, if you're really posh you'll get into Cambridge, and if you come from a really poor background and get straight A's you'll get into Cambridge.
If you're an ordinary middle class kid from the suburbs you don't stand a chance, they don't get to tick any 'look how we've enabled the underprivliged to have a better life' boxes with them.
If you're an ordinary middle class kid from the suburbs you don't stand a chance, they don't get to tick any 'look how we've enabled the underprivliged to have a better life' boxes with them.
Cyclone wrote:
> I think you'll find businesses LOVE people who can speak a foreign
> language - multi-nationals?
>
> I get what you're saying, but I think you're undervaluing some
> courses. Of course most of the time it's 'how you learn' rather than
> 'what' you learn that gets you places.
I guess theres some stuff I did overlook - but subjects like Media (that are enjoying rising popularity) do NOT open doors for the majority of postgraduates.
> I think you'll find businesses LOVE people who can speak a foreign
> language - multi-nationals?
>
> I get what you're saying, but I think you're undervaluing some
> courses. Of course most of the time it's 'how you learn' rather than
> 'what' you learn that gets you places.
I guess theres some stuff I did overlook - but subjects like Media (that are enjoying rising popularity) do NOT open doors for the majority of postgraduates.
Memorandum wrote:
> [URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3577504.stm[/URL]
>
> I reckon that's a fairer reflection on how 'easy' A-levels are.
That makes some interesting points. I never really thought about the fact that A-Levels are the only 'real' piece of news quite often, and so face scrutiny. And that there are actually, comparatively, very, very few people doing A-Levels. Etc.
> [URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3577504.stm[/URL]
>
> I reckon that's a fairer reflection on how 'easy' A-levels are.
That makes some interesting points. I never really thought about the fact that A-Levels are the only 'real' piece of news quite often, and so face scrutiny. And that there are actually, comparatively, very, very few people doing A-Levels. Etc.
Memo's link offers a much clearer explaination
Paradox: wrote:
> What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system.
> f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that
> oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we
> go to a state school attended by working class people.
I used to go to a state school and my Sixth Form is located on the site of that school, but we've never been told that! Mostly we've been pushed to at least apply for one of them (the ones with high grades). But we are one of the top Sixth Forms in out area. Tho' we've never had proper Careers Advice or anything...
> What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system.
> f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that
> oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we
> go to a state school attended by working class people.
I used to go to a state school and my Sixth Form is located on the site of that school, but we've never been told that! Mostly we've been pushed to at least apply for one of them (the ones with high grades). But we are one of the top Sixth Forms in out area. Tho' we've never had proper Careers Advice or anything...
Paradox: wrote:
> Cyclone wrote:
>
> What again? Cambridge and Oxford aren't private schools. The private
> education system rewards wealth - these unis are archaic and stiff,
> but they're not only for the rich. Two of my friends are going to
> Cambridge - cost is the same as any other uni.....and they went to
> state schools.
>
> What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system.
> f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that
> oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we
> go to a state school attended by working class people.
You're from Leeds, what do you expect?
I said they were archaic. ;)
> Cyclone wrote:
>
> What again? Cambridge and Oxford aren't private schools. The private
> education system rewards wealth - these unis are archaic and stiff,
> but they're not only for the rich. Two of my friends are going to
> Cambridge - cost is the same as any other uni.....and they went to
> state schools.
>
> What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system.
> f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that
> oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we
> go to a state school attended by working class people.
You're from Leeds, what do you expect?
I said they were archaic. ;)
I think you'll find businesses LOVE people who can speak a foreign language - multi-nationals?
I get what you're saying, but I think you're undervaluing some courses. Of course most of the time it's 'how you learn' rather than 'what' you learn that gets you places.
I get what you're saying, but I think you're undervaluing some courses. Of course most of the time it's 'how you learn' rather than 'what' you learn that gets you places.
Talking about extra-curricular activities, i'm actaully quite worried. I think i need to get work-experience and do other stuff, else theres a chance I wont get into my course, despite me being a straight A student. And then theres the pressure being put on me to try and get into Oxford or Cambridge. One of my friends trying to get into Cambridge, does the DofE award (Duke of Edinburgh Award) and that involves loads of extra curricular activites, whereas i have very little. Does anyone else worry about this?
[URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3577504.stm[/URL]
I reckon that's a fairer reflection on how 'easy' A-levels are.
I reckon that's a fairer reflection on how 'easy' A-levels are.
Cyclone wrote:
> What again? Cambridge and Oxford aren't private schools. The private
> education system rewards wealth - these unis are archaic and stiff,
> but they're not only for the rich. Two of my friends are going to
> Cambridge - cost is the same as any other uni.....and they went to
> state schools.
What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system. f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we go to a state school attended by working class people.
> What again? Cambridge and Oxford aren't private schools. The private
> education system rewards wealth - these unis are archaic and stiff,
> but they're not only for the rich. Two of my friends are going to
> Cambridge - cost is the same as any other uni.....and they went to
> state schools.
What again, again! Seems I've been lied to by the wretched system. f**king stupid higher educational advisors at my school told me that oxbridge is an option "financial unviable" to us because we go to a state school attended by working class people.
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