Letter: What Happens To Students Who Don’t Get Hoped For Grades?

Published on: 18 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2016

From Paul Kennedy

prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Mole Valley

Congratulations and good luck to every student who got the grades they need for their chosen course or career, and to the teachers and families who supported them.

But what happens to students who don’t get their grades? Michael Gove certainly made it harder by banning January retakes, but there are other options, such as apprenticeships and further education.

A few years ago my youngest daughter dropped out of her A levels suffering from depression. Now she is reading law at a top university, thanks to a University Access Course.

Further education colleges do a wonderful job providing vocational and academic courses for adults without conventional qualifications. But they are desperately underfunded and face further cuts from our Brexit-obsessed Conservative government.

We need to support and educate all our young adults, including those with learning difficulties, not just those who fit into conventional league tables.

Responses to Letter: What Happens To Students Who Don’t Get Hoped For Grades?

Dave Middleton Reply

August 18, 2016 at 2:38 pm

So it’s the government’s fault if schoolchildren (as far as I’m concerned you’re not a “student” until you’re at college or university), fail to pass their exams at the grade they wanted.

Absolute egalitarian liberal rubbish.

Could it not be that they didn’t work hard enough at it, that they’re not good at taking exams, or even that for whatever reason they’re just not good enough at the subjects concerned?

A completely pointless letter, produced purely to snipe at the government from a wannabe politician who’s a member of a party that hasn’t managed to win an election since 1910 that the Liberal Party last won an election. Incidentally, the Liberal Democrats, as the party is now constituted, has never won a general election.
George Potter Reply

August 19, 2016 at 1:23 pm

I think David Middleton’s comment is more appropriate to be considered “rubbish” than Paul Kennedy’s letter.

It’s obvious that not everybody learns in the same way or can express their knowledge under one size fits all examination conditions.

That’s why vocational education (like apprenticeships) and further education (like University Access Courses) are important.

Though if supporting giving students a range of opportunities so they have the freedom to find the one which best suits them is “egalitarian” and “liberal” then I guess I’m proud to be egalitarian and liberal.

Finally, I think it’s utterly despicable that David Middleton ignores the fact that plenty of talented students can do badly in exams through no fault of their own. It could be the case that they’re struggling with physical or mental illness (as mentioned in the letter) or it could be that they’ve suffered some personal tragedy that’s disrupted their education.

My mother died when I was 7 and I can safely say that had that happened when I’d been sitting my A Levels then there is no way I would have done well enough to get into university.

Why begrudge giving young people with their whole lives ahead of them second chances to succeed with their studies if they’re not successful first time round?
John Cooke Reply

August 19, 2016 at 8:01 pm

That’s a bit harsh, Mr Middleton. As somebody who works in FE [further education], I think A Levels to university is not the correct route for everybody. Some need more time and some need more choice. Further education gives students a chance to try a vocational subject and work their way into a career or onto university if that is their goal.

A recent survey (I’m afraid I can’t remember where I read this) showed many graduates were still on low wages, some 10 years after graduating: it’s not the guaranteed success many think.

We rush our kids through education and expect them to have a plan. Many need more time to mature, develop and experiment. Well done to those with a goal and the ability to succeed, but further education colleges see a lot of them later in life saying: “I hate my job, I need to change my life”.

Maybe we should take the pressure off, have alternative routes for the less academic without the pressure and snobbery some show for university education.
Dave Middleton Reply

August 20, 2016 at 8:34 pm

George Potter and John Cooke miss my point. If they look at my comment again they will see that I said that one of the reasons that the children may not pass their exams is that they are, for whatever reason, not good at taking exams.

I fully agree that there are alternative routes to further education and training than the A level to university route and very good they are too.

My point was that Mr Kennedy’s letter was a pointless snipe from a prospective MP, who seems to seek to blame the government for the failure of some children to attain the grades they sought.
Jules Cranwell Reply

August 22, 2016 at 10:00 am

Or, could it be that we are still working to Tony Blair’s formula of insisting that 50% of children must go to university, irrespective of their abilities, suitability for further education, education, education, or whether they would be better placed in vocational careers?