Qualifications 'domino effect' to leave GCSE students without college place

The union said a lack of both university places and the government's refusal to expand the number of higher education options in colleges could see students with GCSEs squeezed out of a college place.
 
The union said thousands of students who missed out on a university place this year could turn to further education colleges for an educational place. Colleges need to be more selective to meet performance targets, which UCU says could force GCSE students out of college and into a competitive job market or onto the dole.
 
The union's senior further education policy officer, Dan Taubman, said: 'Students and staff deserve to be praised today for the continuing hard work that has resulted in such a fantastic set of results this year. Schools and colleges are often judged to be a success or failure based on their exam results. This year that means that our institutions are likely to be more selective because of the sheer number of people seeking a place in education.
 
'This is bad news for GCSE students as a domino effect means it is they who are most likely to be pushed out. This is particularly worrying when we consider the number of young people already not in education, employment or training and the current job market. We see little economic or social benefit in forcing more young people onto the dole and believe the government has to look seriously at funding more places in further and higher education as part of the forthcoming spending review.'