Roots of A-level crisis lay in expansion of university places – Yorkshire Post Letters

THE recent crisis in A-level results has its roots in university changes first proposed 25 to 30 years ago.

During the last days of the Major government, and the early days of the Blair government, it was suggested by the Dearing Commission that we embark upon expansion of university education.

Previously five per cent of our young people studied for degrees. This was expanded to 50 per cent very rapidly. The expansion was funded largely by tuition fees. If university admission expanded so rapidly, do you think the inevitable consequence of that might be a fall in standards?

If more students are to be admitted, surely more have to qualify? And how is that to be achieved without lowering the hurdle into university?

If standards both in A-level and degree education are allowed to slip, will that not diminish the value of A-levels and degrees? How far are we to go? Would it be better for all to take back control of approving university courses from the student loan company?

Should we recreate an institution like the Council for National Academic Awards, which was abolished in 1992, to regulate college and university standards once more?

From: Jarvis Browning, Fadmoor, York.

NOT all areas have a bad internet connections, as we’ve had a 
good connection since we’ve moved to Fadmoor in 2001 when our son needed a connection back then (GP Taylor, The Yorkshire Post, August 26). Now it’s even quicker, much to our son’s envy, as we are better connected than where he is living near Pickering.

From: Henry Cobden, Ilkley.

GAVIN Williamson – how bad do things have to get for you to resign or be sacked?

From: Neil Richardson, Kirkheaton.

LORD O’Neill’s Saturday Essay (The Yorkshire Post, August 22) appears to rank parental concerns for their children above academy chains and better teaching.

Unmentioned in this essay is how learners’ behaviour might change to improve performance. For instance, what do they use as an operational model of student practice amid the potentially confusing world of subject-centred education? Despite its frequent appearance, levelling up seems one of those handy headline phrases which might bamboozle some lay readers.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Editor