Students encouraged to consider 'other pathway' into work as A Level results loom

Students at University College Birmingham who are training through technical courses or apprenticeships shared their stories with the businessman turned politician at the city centre campus.

While many A Levellers will be looking forward to heading to university, some getting grades tomorrow will be looking for another way learn or simply won’t have the grades they need.

Mr Parker said: “University is the right route for lots of young people but there are other pathways to getting access to qualifications and skills they need to succeed in life.

“We have too many young people out of work and around a quarter of the workforce without the skills they need to get better paid jobs.”

He added: “I want to make sure young people have the best possible start in life and the way to deliver that is giving them opportunities to access the most suitable pathway for them.”

In July the Government announced a new body, Skills England, to connect businesses, educators and local authorities, plus unions tasked with plugging skills gaps across regions.

At the college, students can study toward a variety of trade-based careers plus academic options.

Michael Goodman, 22 from Dudley, has just completed a Level 2 qualification in Professional Cookery.

“College is very easily accessible. It’s more of a gentle push into the industry,” he said.

“When I started UCB, I was expecting it to be intense from day one but it’s not, it builds up until the point you get comfortable.”

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The young man had previously worked as a funeral operator but felt he wanted to try something new.

“College is an amazing opportunity to learn what it's like being in a professional kitchen as a beginner” he said.

“But that doesn’t mean you're going to be a beginner forever.”

Next, Michael, who volunteers at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, wants to study for a Level 3 qualification and one day work in a Michelin star kitchen.

“I’ve got a career right in front of me”, he said.

Kamaria Mohamed, 29, who lives in Ward End came to college to get the grades she needed to get into university.

“When I first enrolled here,” she said, “I didn’t have my English and Maths grades, and I was so nervous.”

Kamaria’s finishing a Health access course but wants to study psychology and train as a therapist.

She thinks A-Leveller’s shouldn’t give up if they can’t go to university immediately.

“Even though you might not have the grades, there’s another way, it’s not the end of the world,” she said.

The college offers a variety of entry level courses right through to post-graduate degrees.

Rosa Wells, Further Education Principal at UCB, said: “We want to show there isn’t just one way to be successful in life and there are lots of different options.

“We offer vocational courses. These are hands-on, technical courses that can give people a different opportunity that is different to school.”

Rosa added: “Some students do need something different if the classroom environment hasn’t served them well to reach their full potential.”