What is a BTEC?
London Economics 2013 report
Graduates are more likely to be employed - and as likely to succeed in HE - if they studied a vocational course at sixth form or college, a new study has found.
Analysis of Labour Force statistics in the study by London Economics (10 May 2013) indicates that university graduates who only studied vocational qualifications at sixth form or college were more likely to be in employment than their peers who had studied purely academic qualifications like A levels. Across age groups and genders, graduates with BTECs had an average full-time employment rate of 80% compared to A level only graduates with a rate of 74%.
These figures underline the role that qualifications which develop vocational skills could play in reducing the UK’s historically high unemployment rates now and in the future.
Progression to Higher Education
Although many more A level students progress to university than those studying vocational qualifications, thousands are now starting degrees having completed BTECs and other qualifications, often after a period of time in the workplace. Almost 40% of BTEC learners are aged 27 or above when they achieve their degree, compared to only about 10% of A level learners.
The figures indicate that A level learners take a much more ‘linear’ path compared to ‘non-linear’ BTEC learners, who have a mix of education and employment experience. However, over half of BTEC graduates progress straight to university on completing college or after a short break.
Beyond Higher Education
Figures showed that graduates who had studied BTECs at school and college were on a par with their A level only peers in terms of the jobs they subsequently secured. On some measures they did better - more BTEC only graduates were found to be working as managers, senior officials, or in associate professional roles, compared to A level only graduates (48.9% compared to 45.1%).