Tag: UCAS

Modern apprentice success as city’s students receive their grades

Modern apprentice Rebecca Ritchie is celebrating after successfully completing her Foundation Apprenticeship and entering the City of Edinburgh Council’s early years academy programme.

Rebecca, 18, was one of 16 young people to graduate this summer with an award in Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services Children and Young People and next month she will join our Early Learning and Childcare Academy to train an as early years practitioner.

Rebecca, who left Firrhill High School this summer having achieved five National 5s and two Highers, said: “I’m in quite a few youth clubs which I enjoy so thought a future in childcare would suit me. My school told me about the Foundation Apprenticeships which I’ve now completed and I’m going to be a modern apprentice.

“I think the Foundation Apprenticeships are a really good thing as it gives you a good idea of what job you might want to do and take on as a career. I’m really excited about working in nurseries so I can get to know the children and put into practice what I’ve been learning over the past two years.”

Her success was mirrored today as thousands of young people in Edinburgh received confirmation of their grades from the Scottish Qualifications Agency (SQA).

Once again this year there were no formal SQA examinations due to the pandemic; instead, grades were based on assessments which were set and marked by teachers, following the SQA’s new Alternative Certification Model. The model included robust quality assurance at all levels.

Early indications are positive with pupils from City of Edinburgh Council schools once again making improvements in several areas compared to previous years.

A total of 43,875 resulted awards were certificated for 8,189 candidates (includes special schools, adults and mainstream secondary pupils) in over 88 subjects ranging from Accounting to Urdu.

Particular successes across Edinburgh secondary schools include the percentage of A grades in both National 5s and Highers which improved compared to 2020 and 2019. This year 46.9% presentations were at an A grade compared to 43% for 2020 (3.9 percentage point increase) and 36.9% for 2019 (10 percentage point increase).

At Highers there were 48.3% presentations were at an A grade compared to 41.4% for 2020 (6.9 percentage point increase) and 31.6% for 2019 (16.7 % increase).

National 5s saw passes (A-C grades) of 81.7% (up 3.2 percentage points from 2019) and Highers of 85% (up 8 percentage points from 2019). Both categories saw falls compared to last year with pass rates of 88.8% and 89.7% respectively but there has also been a drop nationally.

Percentage increases across all schools were found at the following levels:

  • By the end of S5, 65% of the S4 roll achieved 1 or more Higher passes (A-C) – a 1 percentage point improvement on last year, and 6 percentage point improvement from 2019. 
  • By the end of S6, 70% of the S4 roll achieved 1 or more Higher passes (A-C) – a 1 percentage point improvement on last year and a 4 percentage point improvement since 2019
  • By the end of S6, 46% achieved 3 or more Higher passes (A-C) – a 1 percentage point improvement on last year and an 8 percentage point improvement since 2019

Jake Douglas, 18 years, left Forrester High School with 3 As in his Advanced Highers of Maths, Mechanics of Maths and Physics and starts at Heriot Watt University studying Maths and Physics next month.

His achievement is all the more notable as his courses were completed remotely as he was studying them at different schools. Due to Covid restrictions he was often unable to attend the schools so had to do his studies with teachers through Microsoft Teams and on e-mail.

He said: “It was really difficult having to study on my own at home but it did work in my favour as it meant I could go at my own pace. I’m delighted I’ve been able to reap the rewards and it’s nice to know that all my hard work has paid off.

Councillor Ian Perry, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This year was once again an extremely difficult one for both pupils preparing for their assessments and our dedicated teaching staff who put in a tremendous amount of effort in co-ordinating them.

“The impact of the pandemic on learning and teaching has been a huge challenge for everyone so it’s really encouraging to see improvements in several measures compared to previous years.

“Praise must go to all our teachers and staff who worked extremely hard in pulling together all the assessments for the SQA. Our young people should be very proud of themselves in what has been an unprecedented year of change.”

Councillor Alison Dickie, Education Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Once again our young people have shown great resilience in the most trying of circumstances and they’re to be congratulated for all their hard work as they take their next steps to achieving their personal goals.

“I’m particularly pleased to see the successes of our young people completing their Foundation Apprenticeships. These qualifications are a great way for us to develop our workforce in the early years area by having people who are well qualified with the right knowledge, skills and expertise to support our children and families in Edinburgh. It’s a progression route for young people coming out of school, and an opportunity for them to consider a professional career in early years.

“It’s important to remember that our amazing young people have a diversity of strengths and interests and that every learner’s journey is different. School is about ensuring they are able to fulfil their potential by attaining the highest level of achievements possible and by receiving the best possible experience.”

More than half of UK students considering dropping out as mental health plummets

University degrees lose value with employers

  • 55% of students are considering dropping out of their courses, while 63% say their mental health and wellbeing worsened since the start of the academic year
  • Three in 10 businesses say a job candidate’s degree doesn’t matter at all, while 56% say that it is generally not important
  • However UCAS data reveals university applications have risen

More than half of UK students were considering dropping out this academic year, while two thirds have suffered a decline in mental health, a new study has found, alongside the fact that 56% of companies do not consider a degree important when recruiting.

The research by money transfer service RationalFX found that student mental health is declining, with a recent ONS survey revealing that 63% of students said their mental wellbeing had worsened since the start of the academic year in September 2020. Furthermore, 55% of students say they are considering dropping out of their courses.

In addition, new graduates will encounter a job market where 30% of business owners say a degree is not important at all when recruiting, while a further 26% rate the qualification as not very important, according to a poll by YouGov.

Despite this, the numbers for university applications this year have risen. New data from UCAS reveals that there have been 10% more applications for this Autumn, rising from 281,000 last year to a record 311,000, with 44% of school leavers applying for university places.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for RationalFX said: “Choosing whether to study for a degree has always been a big decision, but the impact of the pandemic has probably made it even more significant.

“For the majority of employers, a degree is far from essential, and for many students the last academic year has been very difficult. And with the cost of attending university higher than ever before, it is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly.”

Only 14% of businesses say a degree is very important while one in four consider it somewhat important. Larger businesses are more likely to consider a degree valuable when hiring a new employee, with 56% saying that it is important, compared to one in five small businesses.

The employment sector that places the greatest importance on degrees during the hiring process is Legal, with IT & Telecoms coming in second.

Finance and Accounting comes in third, followed by Media & Marketing, Manufacturing and Construction.

Marketing is split with 47% of businesses believing a degree is important, and 50% saying it is not. The sector that places the least importance on having a degree is hospitality and leisure.

Younger business owners are much more likely to value a degree, with 23% of those aged under 35 rating one as very important, compared to just 8% of UK business owners aged 55 and over.

Businesses in London are more likely to value a degree when they are looking for new hires, with 62% considering it at least somewhat important, while nearly of half of businesses in Wales (46%) say the qualification is not important at all.

The analysis was conducted by RationalFX, which is one of Europe’s leading international payment providers. Its competitive exchange rates, market expertise, suite of FX products and online payment platform enable bank transfers in more than 50 currencies worldwide.

Employment Sector and their opinion on the importance of a degree for a new hire
SectorVery importantSomewhat importantNot important at all
Legal402611
IT & Telecoms193917
Finance and Accounting213318
Media/Marketing/advertising/ PR & Sales182923
Manufacturing132531
Construction112540
Retail141635
Hospitality and Leisure61348
UK businesses and their opinion on the importance of a degree, split by region
RegionVery importantSomewhat importantNot important at all
London273517
Southeast72529
Southwest72437
Wales111346
Scotland141936
North62239
Midlands152128
https://www.rationalfx.com

Applicants to Scottish universities reaches record high

11% rise in individuals applying from most deprived areas

Scottish universities have seen a record number of prospective students applying to study for the academic year ahead, according to new figures from the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

The number of individuals applying to Scottish institutions increased by 10% to 140,440. The figures show the number of Scottish applicants from the most deprived areas applying to UK providers has increased by 11% and there has been a 23% rise in non-EU international applicants.

This year’s statistics also highlight a 41% decrease in applicants based in EU countries looking to study in Scotland.

Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “These statistics show a steep rise in prospective students looking to study at Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with applicants from Scotland’s most deprived areas increasing by 11% to a record high.

“We have seen a big percentage increase in applicants from international students outside the EU and that again demonstrates the attractiveness of Scotland as a place to come to live and study.

“There was however a sharp drop in EU students applying to come to Scotland, which was always going to be an inevitable consequence of leaving the EU. We will continue to work with our international partners to strengthen our education and research relationships through scholarships and by promoting Scottish learning and research globally, recognising the ongoing importance of our close relationships with our European neighbours.”

2021 cycle applicant figures – 30 June deadline sample CSVs | Undergraduate | UCAS

Record number of Scots go to University

A record number of Scots were accepted to a UK university in 2017, figures published today show. Over 36,500 Scottish domiciled applicants accepted a place for this academic year – an increase of over 850 or 2.4%.

All other UK countries saw a decrease in the number of their residents accepted to university.

The figures were released by UCAS in their first End of Cycle Report 2017. It also shows a record number of all applicants accepted to Scottish higher education institutions in 2017 – up 1.7%.

Further and Higher Education Minister, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “It is great to see that Scotland is bucking the trend across the UK, with more of our prospective students securing a place at university. This follows on from the record numbers last year.

“It shows that our education system is supporting an increasing number of people to access higher education – giving them the skills they need to succeed.

“This is also another record year for Scotland’s universities, with the highest ever number of applicants accepted to study here. It is testament to the fact that Scotland remains a destination of choice for students, due in no small part to the reputation for excellence that our institutions have worked hard to achieve.”