The list of A-level subjects that top universities favour when deciding which students to admit is too narrow, Michael Gove has indicated.
Britain’s leading institutions employ a list of tough subjects they value the highest. Ministers have emphasised the importance of these “facilitating subjects” — which include English, maths, science, humanities and languages — as they are seen as necessary to study at the Russell Group of top British universities.
But an A-level student studying economics challenged the Education Secretary about the list, which has controversially become a school league table measure.
Kiki Ifalaye, 17, of Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, told Mr Gove that students would avoid choosing economics because it was not on the list, even though it was a rigorous A-level. The student said: “Because economics is not a facilitating subject it inclines students to steer away from it. [The list] doesn’t take into consideration their skills and individuality and aspirations. It should be broader.”
Mr Gove agreed he found it “odd” that economics was not classed as a facilitating subject, and that Schools Minister David Laws — who studied economics at Cambridge — found it “even more perplexing” .
The Education Secretary said economics was his only A-level, as he went to school in Scotland where teenagers take Highers. He pointed out the list was drawn up by the Russell Group, and helped make students more aware of the consequences of their A-level choices. “There are certain choices that leave every door open,” he said. “In my mind I would take a range of subjects to keep my options open. I did a mix of science and arts subjects so was not putting all bets on one horse.”
Schools are now measured on how many pupils pass A-levels in three of the facilitating subjects. Critics say the measure is elitist and not backed by evidence.
