It was A-level results day on 15th August, and as young people find out whether they’ve got the grades to go to university, the value of degrees is under scrutiny.
According to the Independent, A-level students who achieve exceptional grades are choosing not to go to university and favouring apprenticeships instead. Rather than paying the extortionate tuition fees and facing a lifetime of debt, savvy students are choosing to learn and earn on the job.
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has just revealed that there are around 20,000 apprenticeships available in the UK. Professions which may have traditionally needed a degree to get into such as law, accountancy, IT and journalism now have established apprenticeship schemes in place, making it easier for young people to achieve their dream jobs. Apprenticeships are by no means an easy route in; many firms insist on a minimum of three B-grade passes.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “For some students, the decision will be ‘Do I go to university or do I look at one of the many other employment routes?’ There are an increasing number of high-level routes available. If you’re paying £9,000 a year for university, people are going to ask what they’re getting out of it.”
