Most teenagers make university their target despite higher fees
Four out of five 16- to 18-year-olds said that a degree was either important or very important to their future career prospects, according to research by Price- waterhouseCoopers (PwC) and TMP Worldwide, the recruitment communications consultancy.
PwC said it was “surprising” that only 37 per cent of students surveyed said they were less likely to go to university because of increased tuition fees.
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Hide AdTwo thirds of students said their school placed more emphasis on going to university than jobs or training.
The vast majority of students (70 per cent) said they planned to go to university.
The Government will allow universities to charge fees of up to £9,000 a year for courses starting from next September.
The report – Post 16 Pathways – also found that 41 per cent of students think their school careers service is below par and have to look elsewhere for advice.
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Hide AdJust over a third of students (34 per cent) said they took careers guidance from their parents, while 20 per cent relied on their school’s careers teacher and 12 per cent looked online.
The survey also found that employers felt schools were not doing enough to facilitate links between firms and school-leavers. Only four per cent were happy with the status quo. Just over half of students (54 per cent) said they had no interaction with employers while at school.
Only one in 20 students said they thought an apprenticeship was the best option after school, which PwC said suggested students see university as the route to better jobs and earnings.
Sonja Stockton, director of recruitment at PwC, said: “University and apprenticeships have to be a choice not a compromise for talented students and employers alike.
“But it requires a fundamental rethink of how employers attract, assess, develop and reward the recruits they need for their business to grow. That’s not going to happen overnight.”