Mike Nicholson, Head of Admissions for the University of Oxford, has criticised the government’s proposed A-level reform scheme in a speech at a conference in London
Under these government plans, all A-levels will be sat in a linear fashion, with AS levels remaining a stand-alone qualification. Nicholson believes such changes will hinder people from disadvantaged backgrounds in applying to and getting into Oxford.
In his speech, Nicholson, described the changes as, “another great example of the Government’s tendency to meddle in things they should probably really leave alone.” He highlighted how there was concern from both the secondary and higher education sectors about how reforms to GCSEs and A-levels occurring at the same time could have “tragic consequences” for widening access to Oxford. Improving access is something he has very much supported since joining Oxford.
He told the forum A-level change was not a necessity due to “limited evidence” supporting it. Commenting on the linearization of A-levels and access efforts, he said, “the loss of AS levels will have tragic consequences for widening participation and access to university. AS levels are excellent because they give students a very clear indication of what they are capable of achieving. The real danger is students will plough on believing that they may not be capable of applying to a highly selective course – but equally (others) believing that they are capable of applying to a highly selective and competitive course.”
In a more recent development, Education Minister Liz Truss has responded to the speech by writing an open letter to Oxford University, in which she defends the government’s changes from an academic and access perspective. She commented that the plans were “encouraging core academic subjects”, reversing the Curriculum 2000 changes, and went on to say, “We’re making changes not because we feel like it – but because qualifications have gradually eroded in value, debased by endless modules, resits and ever-rising pass rates.”
These changes had seen the integration of AS into A-levels, and resulted in less students choosing to study what are traditionally considered to be more academic subjects. For example, following the changes the number of students studying maths dropped by twenty percent in a single year.
Truss praised the government for increasing language entry significantly, and asked whether students doing chemistry, history and languages – the most valuable and respected subjects according to her – were to be frowned upon. She claimed that the plans enhanced the prospects of those from lower incomes by giving them the option to study more academic subjects.
However, many sources support the view as put forward by Nicholson and the University of Oxford. The university’s official position is that, “Along with other universities, we have expressed concerns about the impact of removing AS levels in the consultations on proposed qualifications reforms in England.”
Rachel Pickering, OUSU Vice-President for Access and Academic Affairs, very much agrees. She said, “We still don’t know what the impact of the £9K fee has been on undergraduate access, let alone what effect scrapping AS levels could have on participation in higher education from disadvantaged groups.
“I agree with Mike Nicholson that recent government plans to reform A-levels – making them linear and leaving AS Levels a stand-alone qualification – could have tragic consequences for widening participation efforts.
“AS Levels allow students a clear indication of what they then can achieve at A-level, helping them to make an informed choice as they apply to higher education institutions and aiding progression of those from disadvantaged backgrounds to higher education.”
Stephen Purkess, a first year Oxford student, agreed, commenting that his AS grades were what motivated him to consider Oxford.
However, another first year student claimed that changes wouldn’t have affected their decision to apply, and believed the changes would increase the number applying to Oxford as many students are disappointed with their AS level results and therefore didn’t apply.
