Thousands of British teenagers had their futures decided last week by a few single letters. After enduring an anxious wait, A-level and BTec students finally found out whether they had the necessary grades to get them into university and set them on the path to a well-paid career.
But one group of teenagers studying for a BTec in engineering at a sixth form college run by London South Bank University is hoping for something different: they want to take up an apprenticeship when they leave school — not the traditional three-year degree often viewed as the benchmark of success.
The group, comprising a mix of ethnic and economic backgrounds, reflects a growing shift in attitudes towards vocational qualifications in the UK, according to Derwyn Kennedy, assistant vice-principal at LSBU. Driving the change are concerns about student debt, the desire to earn while you study and a growing prestige surrounding apprenticeships.