The flurry of national interest in the axing of small A level subjects has been very welcome although, as yet, insufficient to save all those facing extinction.
Historically the Examination Boards (some of whom are charities) had subsidised some smaller subjects from larger entries and informally, have shared that relatively small burden between them. In many cases it has also been in their interest since a Department offering Classics might also be interested in History or Philosophy from the same Board. That position has changed, particularly with AQA which stands out amongst the Boards in terms of using the current A Level changes as cover to ditch smaller subjects.
But does it matter? If only a few hundred students take Anthropology or Statistics is it really such a tragedy if they disappear and future students have to content themselves with History, Psychology or English? From a very limited financial point of view it doesn’t and equally will seem of little consequence to those with very narrow perspectives on national employment needs who see these as esoteric subjects. However, the cultural, educational and economic damage caused by these decisions will far outstrip the modest savings made by AQA. Statistics provides a good example. It was designed for students who don’t want to do a broad maths A level but who are likely to need to analyse data at HE and employment. Currently we have a national problem with relatively few social scientists having strong skills in this very marketable area and with better promotion to schools and sixth form colleges numbers would surely have risen.
A glance at the list of subjects being withdrawn, however, highlights the particular impact on the humanities and social sciences. In 2015 Anthropology and World Development were axed. In 2016 Art History and Classics joined them. We spend 0.7% of gross national income (£12.2 billion) on foreign aid but have cut a course which focussed (and enthused) young people on world issues critical to notions of ‘British Values’ and on HE courses which lead to worthwhile careers.
The issues can perhaps be seen best in relation to Archaeology. Sir Tony Robinson led a number of national figures and organisations in condemning the decision as ‘cultural vandalism’. We may be alone amongst advanced economies in not allowing young people to study the early development of our nation or our entire prehistory. A high proportion of students studying Archaeology went on to study the subject at University. A knock-on at the HE level is inevitable. The economic fallout has also been highlighted by the Council for British Archaeology and Chartered Institute of Archaeology. Both point out the route from A Levels into the profession. Heritage, an area worth millions to Britain and currently supports 113,000 direct and 157,000 indirect jobs. The timing could not be worse. The UK is having to import archaeologists to cope with the number of major infrastructure projects such as HS2.
So why are the cuts happening? There have been attempts to blame ministers or Ofqual but these are red-herrings. The DfE had already agreed which A levels should be developed and in many cases the subject content, which Ofqual had agreed, had been produced by the Boards themselves. The new specification in Archaeology for instance, was about to be submitted to Ofqual for final agreement when it was suddenly withdrawn and without any consultation with the sector. A number of spurious arguments were put forward:
The real reason is financial. The examination board can save a few £000s and is willing to risk a short period of reputational damage to do so.
As Sixth Form Colleges we have led the way in offering a wide choice of subjects to young people and that is one element in our success as the most efficient and effective institutions in providing A Level education. We should be taking a lead in resisting these withdrawals on a number of grounds:
They significantly narrow the 16-18 curriculum and reduce student choice
They contribute to a very limited, instrumental view of what is important educationally and culturally in a similar way to recent assaults on the creative arts.
They actually open up routes into higher education and careers in areas which are rather important to this country.
Currently at least one exam board is looking at picking up some of these subjects and some Universities may also offer a lifeline. However, these are not guaranteed. A rethink will only happen when Politicians become involved. Please consider writing to your local MPs on this matter and circulating the various petitions; a petition to reinstate archaeology A-level can be found here.
Jim Grant
Interim Principal, Cirencester College