White working-class students and black British students risk missing out if schools focus on A-Levels as the main pathway to university and professional success, a think-tank warns today.
The Social Market Foundation says that emphasis on A-Levels as the only route into university tends to mainly benefit affluent white young people, while overlooking the interests of those from working class and/or ethnic minority backgrounds who are more likely to follow other routes.
The SMF, a cross-party think-tank, said that political debates framing education policy as a choice between helping white working class or ethnic minority students are misleading. Both groups would benefit from greater support for vocational and technical qualifications including BTECs and T-levels, the SMF said.
