College students, Nista Bhattarai, Suruchi Gurung and Maia Gordon, together with Dr Susie Nyman, Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care, were excited to be invited by UCAS, to their Cheltenham Headquarters.  The purpose of their visit was to contribute to a film, to promote the case for Cambridge Technicals, as a progression route to Higher Education (HE).

Dr Nyman had become aware that a number of universities, to which our students and those from other colleges were keen to apply, were not accepting Cambridge Technicals as a recognised qualification.

Sandra Stalker, from UCAS, invited the College to take part in a case study on qualification routes, available outside A levels, to meet the aspiration of students and to support their recruitment and retention on HE courses.

This proactive approach led Dr Nyman to survey 71 universities. Of the 50 which replied, 45 said they would accept both BTEC and Cambridge Technicals, two said they would accept neither and three said they would accept a BTEC but not a Cambridge Technical.  She also encouraged her students to call universities directly and to act as ambassadors for the qualification, on Open Days at the College.

One high-ranking university replied, “We welcome applicants offering a profile of Pearson BTEC or OCR Cambridge Technicals combined with other BTEC/Cambridge Technicals or combined with A Levels”.  Another has agreed to change its overall policy as a result of our approach.

Dr Nyman commented “The Health and Social Care team always wholeheartedly support our students and we are pleased with the immediate outcome of this exercise. We are looking forward to a time when all accredited qualifications are on a level playing field and students will be clear from the beginning of their courses, if the qualification will be recognised by the University of their Choice.”

The videos which the students contributed to are now on the  the UCAS website here.  Dr Nyman's contribution can be seen here.