University admissions are set to be "highly competitive" this year, the head of Wales’ exam regulator said urging young people to consider other routes to take. Qualifications Wales chairman David Jones spoke out ahead of A-level results being announced on Thursday, August 18.
The regulator has already warned exam grades will be lower this year which is being run as a "transition" between record results from teacher assessed grades in 2021 and pre-pandemic sat exams. Papers were modified to take into account lost learning this year, but there have been complaints that this year's exams weren't fair even so.
“University is not the only option," said Mr Jones as students and their teachers wait for the first sat summer exam results for three years . A level results are out on August 18 and GCSEs on August 25. You can get more education news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Students left 'broken, crying and deflated' by 'unfair' A level exams
Traditional exams were cancelled during the pandemic and replaced with teacher assessed grades based on previous work and work during remote learning. Some commentators claimed teacher assessed grades were inflated during the pandemic. While this year’s results will be lower than last year's record results Qualifications Wales has insisted the process is sound and won’t put students in Wales at a disadvantage.
Mr Jones said “exams are a fair way to assess learners” but acknowledged things are different this year. “Certainly, if I were a teenager again, I would look very closely at all the options available,” he said.
Comparisons should not be drawn with results from previous years or other UK nations: "There is is no merit in looking at grades from the past two years when assessment arrangements were differen t. Similarly, care should be taken with all comparisons, including those with other parts of the UK.”
And he added: “Whatever the results are this month we all need to congratulate young people for what they have managed to achieve in extremely difficult and unprecedented times.”
Describing the approach to exams in Wales this year Mr Jones said it was “a transition year” in recognition of the “challenging times during the pandemic”. Schools have reported throughout the year that disruption has continued with tens of thousands of pupils sent to work remotely again, high numbers of staff and pupil absence and some exam years left without specialist subject teachers for weeks.
To take all this into account exam papers and grading were adapted: “Qualifications Wales has implemented an alternative grading approach so that results will broadly reflect a midway point between 2019 and 2021. This is in line with what is happening in England and will ensure that learners in Wales are not at a disadvantage compared to their peers across the border,” said Mr Jones.
But with soaring numbers of applications to universities this year, coupled with potentially lower grades for some students he added: ”With the AS and A level results being announced next week, there will be many young people anxiously waiting to receive their grades in order to plan their next steps. Some will be hoping to go to university; others will be keen to find employment as soon as possible; and some will be looking to pursue an apprenticeship, which will allow them to earn while they learn.
“UCAS’s initial analysis suggests an increase in applications for university this year, with the expected demand for higher education from 18-year-olds continuing to increase year on year. What that means is that 2022 is a highly competitive year. In response to this situation colleagues at UCAS have been working with higher education institutions to ensure a robust clearing system to support learners.”
He said there are “many courses and alternative progression routes out there” and schools and colleges will be able to advise those who don’t get the grades they need to apply for university places through Clearing.
“University is not the only option as learners progress to their next steps. There is a raft of vocational courses available in further education colleges, in many subjects and at a range of levels, along with a whole host of other opportunities across the training sector.
“We know that there are several sectors where there is a great demand for skilled employees - such as health and care, construction, engineering and catering - and there are more opportunities than ever for apprenticeships in these areas. Certainly, if I were a teenager again, I would look very closely at all the options available.”
Mr Jones, former FE chief executive of Coleg Cambria, said colleges have good connections to advise about apprenticeships. Acknowledging how hard the last few years have been for everyone in education, he said all young people should be congratulated.
“Whatever the results are this month we all need to congratulate young people for what they have managed to achieve in extremely difficult and unprecedented times.”
The decision to run sat exams again this summer was made after three years of education and exam disruption thanks to the Covid pandemic. Qualifications Wales was criticised in a Welsh Government commissioned report after thousands of results were downgraded by an algorithm when exams were first cancelled at the last minute in 2020. The then Education Minister Kirsty Williams was forced into a u-turn after a public outcry and and announced all that summer's exams would be graded on teacher assessments. That approach continued in 2021 when summer exams were cancelled for a second year. Meanwhile small numbers of pupils have sat exams in November and January while numerous reports have logged the massive impact of Covid on education.
Record applications to Welsh and other universities
Data from university admissions service UCAS, from June 30, the final date to apply for to up to five courses at the same time, shows:
- Record number of applicants (82,060) to Welsh universities
- Largest increase in applicants (3.7%) of the UK nations
- Record number of applicants (23,500) from Wales
- Increase in international applicants (12,500) to Welsh universities
- A record high proportion of Welsh 18-year-olds applying to university (38.1%)
Commenting on the figures Amanda Wilkinson, Director of Universities Wales, said: “I’m delighted to see today’s figures which show that application rates to universities in Wales are continuing to rise, with our institutions seeing the largest increase of the UK nations. This reflects the distinct offer universities in Wales have for students, and the warm welcome and excellent student experience that all students can expect to receive at our institutions.
“Universities have a crucial role to play Wales’ future economic and social prosperity, and we will need people with graduate level skills to tackle some of the major challenges we face as a society. In this context it is particularly heartening to see that a record number of 18-year-olds in Wales continue to value the benefits and opportunities that a university education offers.
“We have also seen a welcome increase in international applications. Our international students play an invaluable role in diversifying and internationalising our campuses and communities.
“Our students are an important and valued part of our communities across Wales and those joining us this autumn can be confident that Welsh universities will be continue to deliver high-quality and rewarding courses to help them fulfil their potential.”
Read next:
School closures in the pandemic 'damaging' and left children depressed
- Headteachers warn exam system is 'immoral' and fear it will jeopardise children's futures
- The beautiful message a head teacher sent staff and pupils to recognise how hard things have been
Where Wales' eight universities stand in the latest UK higher education ranking
