Sixth-formers are now questioning whether university is right for them

The traditional edifice of sixth form, university in Britain, and a job for life is still the norm for many, but major cracks are beginning to appear in the infrastructure. As the father of three children, two of whom have been through university and one who is still there, as well as headmaster of a school which sends more than 200 young -people to university each year, I have to say that I am neither surprised, nor indeed sorry, that the traditional model is beginning to implode.

Increasing numbers are beginning to question whether higher education is right for them at all. Too few ask themselves the question, ‘Why am I going to university?’ Too many sleepwalk their way through the experience, without making the most of it as a result. Many more companies are now offering direct entry schemes for school-leavers. One of our most promising students last year, a senior prefect, has gone straight into an apprenticeship at such a firm, rejecting her place at a top university, and wrote to say that many more would benefit from working hard and learning on the job for three years rather than whiling away their time on abstract study. Adverse stories about repaying tuition fees are leading increasing numbers to form the same conclusion.

British universities are doing an outstanding job in many ways, with three in the world top-ten rankings and five in the top 20 of the best universities which are less than 50 years old. But there are growing problems around the experience of undergraduates. Outstanding though many of our universities are in their postgraduate experience, and in their record for research, I am yet to be convinced that they have fully woken up to the need to consider the experience of undergraduates. This article is certainly not a diatribe against our universities.