Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on today’s publication of level 3 results.
“Congratulations to students and their teachers on this year’s level 3 results. This is the culmination of a great deal of hard work, and everybody involved deserves enormous credit for their commitment. It is important to remember that today is not only about celebrating A-levels and that many thousands of young people take a range of equivalent qualifications in technical and vocational subjects which are vital both to their progression and to providing the skills base of the nation.
“New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has spoken about the importance of parity of esteem between these educational pathways alongside academic routes and, if we are to achieve that ambition, we must ensure that on days like today we recognise achievement across the board. The government is embarking on a major programme of reforms to these qualifications over the next few years with the introduction of V-levels alongside the evolving landscape of T-levels, and it is of the utmost importance that this is accompanied by a campaign to raise awareness among families and employers.
“They must be embedded in the national psyche in the same way that A-levels have long been widely understood and recognised.
“To that end we are pleased to see that the Joint Council for Qualifications has for the first time published the results of many vocational and technical qualifications alongside A-levels. It is a step in the right direction.
“Turning to A-levels, while the year-on-year results are largely consistent, this also means that very significant disparities continue to exist between the English regions in terms of top grades. These results are clearly affected by relative levels of socioeconomic disadvantage and reflect the structural inequalities which exist in our nation. Every year we say that we cannot go on like this and that as a society we must do more to support communities which often feel abandoned and neglected. When will we actually do that?
“While many young people will be delighted with the results they have received today, there will inevitably be others who are disappointed and worried about their next steps. We would encourage these young people to talk to their teachers for help and advice over their options. It is important not to panic as there will be a range of excellent opportunities available.
“We wish all students every success for the future whatever pathway they choose.”