A Level qualifications – the best pathway to world-leading universities and beyond

Paul Rispin, Director of Sixth Form and Careers at Harrow Beijing, argues the case for an established model...

Good ideas and good systems endure, and A Levels are a very good system indeed. Despite the many changes to educational philosophy, theory and policies over recent decades, A Level qualifications remain the cornerstone of the English schools’ system and continue to provide a pathway to study to world-leading universities, not only for Britons but also for many students around the world. This is reflected in the fact that A Levels are accepted by universities globally. This is particularly true in the United States, where undergraduate students often gain credits for the A Level courses they have taken and, in some cases, even skip the first year entirely.

The longevity of the A Level system is not however due to a fixed mindset or overly conservative approach to education, but rather to the flexibility and adaptability of this qualification. In a rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever that the qualifications young people are taking equip them well for the modern world they are entering. Harrow Beijing is in many ways at the centre of this modern world, characterized as it is by the rise of Asia and the dominance of technology. Our students excel at Design Technology, Computer Science and Mandarin to name just a few of the subjects and areas of knowledge that prepare them to engage with dynamic and rapidly changing work environments.

While recognising that there are subjects that are important and highly desired in the modern workplace, the most salient feature of A Levels is undoubtedly its flexibility in terms of subject options. A Levels allow for individual choice. If a student feels confident that they know their career path, they can pursue the subjects pertinent to it. For example, a student wishing to go into medicine or engineering is highly likely to focus on Science subjects along with the study of Mathematics and possibly Further Mathematics. On the other hand, a student who wishes to keep their options open and is unsure of which area to “major” in at undergraduate level can take a range of subjects. Some of the best A Level students are often studying a wide variety of subjects. It is not uncommon for a strong student at Harrow Beijing to be studying a Humanities subject, a language, a Science, in addition to Music or Art.

A Levels at Harrow Beijing are contextualized in the history and tradition of a British School. This means that the school provides a plethora of opportunities for students to study widely and be involved in a range of activities. We add breadth to the curriculum by allowing students to study Epistemology. This course further adds to students’ ability to distinguish between beliefs, opinions and facts and this accords well with our multicultural environment. It also adds an element of philosophical thinking to the experience of a student studying A Levels. Students also embark on a Project of their choosing. Completion is recognised with an accredited “Extended Project Qualification”. This is part of the programme which gives students the opportunity to research a topic they choose and to discover more about that topic for themselves. The skills to be able to use sound research methods, to formally reference, to critique academic papers, to consider the ethical implications of research and to formally present their findings are all valuable for students going forward to higher education.

Throughout my career, I have spent countless hours helping students to prepare university applications to some of the world’s leading universities. It has been my consistent experience that A Levels are highly regarded by admissions officers and students studying A Levels are warmly welcomed at the world’s best universities. To quote Stuart Schmill, the Dean of Admissions at MIT, “Students who have taken A Levels do very well at our campus. They are very well-prepared for our curriculum and we find that they have a lot of confidence, but also that they have a good deep subject knowledge, and the ability to think critically”.

I have been an A Level teacher for over 20 years and I am even more convinced now than ever that it is the best pathway to university for students in the UK and internationally. I firmly believe where schools embrace a full curriculum and enhance A Level study with extra-curricular and leadership opportunities, such as those offered at Harrow Beijing, A Levels continue to provide the “gold standard” education which universities and employers seek. A Levels demand rigour but crucially allow students to remain intellectually curious. For all of these reasons, I believe that it is the most suitable qualification students can take in order to succeed at the world’s best universities and beyond.