Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 December 2008 09:21:03
The BBC had this article about some universities drawing up lists of "traditional" and "soft" subject A Level choices, which are involved in entry criteria. As they say only Cambridge and the London School of Economics (LSE) have explicit lists published, although others may be making similar distinctions without making it explicit.
Taking a look at the LSE list I have to say I was surprised. The "non-preferred" subjects include "Law", "Business Studies" and "Accountancy" - three subjects which are certainly not easy options for students. Yet missing from the list was Sociology, a subject which I have constantly been reminded one way or another over the years is often seen as a soft option, even though I don't think it is. So what is going on?
Well, here is my take on it. Universities are increasingly having to make decisions, as with other firms, on what parts of the business to grow and which to prune. They are also dealing with widening participation agendas coupled with increasing equality laws, whilst seeking to get the best people in, but without being seen to discriminate. The LSE is one of the top places in the country for Sociology, and so my guess is that the social sciences won't end up on the list as long as this is an area of excellence and revenue for them. However, if for things like Law they want to be able to descriminate in favour of the "traditional institutions" and clientelle, producing a list which favours 6th forms in private schools and schools which were previously grammar schools producing a list like this is the best way to do it.
It is also evidence of how the A Level departments in FE colleges are increasingly in a no win situation. In these institutions the "non-preferred list" together with the social science subjects which are regularly criticised in the media are standard subjects for non-science subjects, (together with English, which is still acceptable).
In some ways I wish we could go back to calling the new uni's polys, have every university publish this type of list and just get back to being honest about the discrimination which exists in this country.