Does anyone here teach on an Access to HE course? Or teach undergraduates who have followed this path?

[CousinBob]

I’m just wondering how a one year course can be the same value as a two year A level course? Is it very intense?
Thinking of university courses, are these students disadvantaged by not having the same depth of knowledge as those who have done A levels?

I don’t teach on one but my daughter did one.

she did an access to science one. They had to choose three of four options - maths, physics, bio, chem. in maths the content was about 2/3 of the a level.

she also took a level maths in the same year.

I teach on uni courses where access courses are a progression pathway. In my opinion they are excellent prep for uni. They do appear intense with a high pace of assessment throughout the programme, rather than at the end like A levels. I find that it prepares students well for university level study. We work closely with our FE providers to look at their content to make sure it aligns well with our degree programmes to ensure that learning is purposeful and preparatory

I teach a degree with about 50/50 access students vs a level students. I’d say in general the access students are more used to organising themselves and getting stuff done.

The majority of access students are intelligent and don’t struggle. We get the odd one who would no way have got the ucas points they got via Access if they had done A levels and then they sink like a stone….sometimes we drag them through with a lot of support.

Conversely, I’ve found the access students are technicians in their health care profession, once qualified. The most difficult are access followed by degree apprenticeship. They need so much more promoting, steering and guidance.

Faced with a challenge, they readily say ‘Nah, can’t do that‘ (‘can’t adapt what I know to solve a new situation’).

In this day and age, if you did Y9-11 snogging behind the bike shed, Sixth form/FE college not attending or doing some L2/2.5 cobble together courses, then, possibly even a uni tho you don’t have GCSE Maths or English (Solent..)…

… are you really ‘proper’ university material?

Reality is, a lot of heath care will be downgraded to ‘Diploma’ (B4). With a resulting easier access for less well qualified people, but with the commensurate lower pay.

Maybe this is what we need, rather than pretend a 1 year ‘access course’ is equivalent to 3 A levels.

The ones you ‘drag through’ might become the radiographer who is hopelessly, dangerously out of their depth at 2am faced with a complex multi-trauma.

Our local uni also pass these students. Because it is in their interest to do so. But not in the interest of their employer, fellow worker, or most importantly, patient….(‘Hey, they want me to Xray this woman’s neck because of her gynae stuff! How stupid are they!’.. degree qualified ‘access’ student, ex-porter, who after a 3 year degree, didn’t know that your neck bones are your cervical spine, and that your cervix is elsewhere. Genuine. A degree qualified radiographer.).

Again, I will state, maybe this is where we need to be heading. People like these being our radiographers. Probably realistically staying at B5.

But do not pretend they are anywhere near as well ‘background’ versed and educated as the 8 GCSE/3A level students they’re being awarded alongside.

@Fordian sorry, should probably have been clearer. I was thinking just of the academic side of things when I said “drag through”. Not placement. I was thinking of some students who might struggle with critically analysing research but are fine and safe in practice.

even then we wouldn’t pass them on theory modules because it’s in our interest. I’ve no problem with failing someone and removing them off the course at all. But I do find if you chivvy them on to access support such as tutorials, academic writing workshops, etc then even the weaker students usually manage. So ultimately it comes down to how much they’re prepared to put in.

when it comes to passing/failing placement that’s on the staff in placement, who I will always support if they say a student shouldn’t pass.

But surely if they have all passed the relevant degree then they are as well educated? Some of the ex access students are our strongest students.

They haven’t all done Access because they failed A levels a couple of years ago. Some have done Access because they’re in their 30s and need recent study but are as intellectual as the 18yo ex A level student with AAA.

Which university?

DD is doing an accelerated masters in diagnostic radiography having achieved a first class degree in biomedical sciences and AAA at A level including biology and chemistry.

The course is not a doddle and I resent the implication that radiographers don't know their arse from their elbow.

I’ve looked at their website and it seems there are Access courses for subjects like Law and Engineering which is interesting.

Can they do an access course at 16 instead of A levels or is it 18+?

Do they have to have maths and English?

Are there any exams?

Thank you to the PP who have made positive comments about this route to higher education. Not all yp have the opportunity to take A levels at age 16–18. My dc (who achieved 7-9s at GCSE) spent significant periods of Y12-14 in hospital. Despite valiant attempts to catch up they were unable to sit their A levels. Now out of hospital, but age 20, their only option to progress to university is to take an Access to Science HE course at our local college in September, as too old to enrol for A levels.

I don't teach them but I did one. After dropping out of school at 13 (my parents didn't value school) and working factory jobs from age 16 until I was 22. Did a one year Access to Social Sciences and History course at college alongside the equivalent to English and maths GCSEs as I had not a single qualification to my name (unless you count year six SATs!). Yes, it was intensive, especially having been out of education for so long.

Got into the University of Bristol, got a first plus numerous awards (I actually won everything that was available). Now a lawyer on six figures.

So I can't say not doing A levels held me back 🤣

We offer a one year fast track access to uni course. The students do 8 units over the year. We also prep them well for uni and our students have won uni awards every year. By the time they go to ‘the big school’ they are completing assignments in academic writing, citing sources and referencing in Harvard style. Our course is validated by our local university

That’s brilliant to hear Andoutcomethewolves

It's for mature students, it's not something you can choose at 16. The youngest on my course was 19 and I was 22 but we'd both had tough lives! Most of the others were closer to 30/40 (plus one 65 year old who also got into Bristol to study history!)

They're a great option for people who for whatever reason haven't followed the traditional route.

Thank you! It's completely changed my life and is a great opportunity for people who want/need it!

Wow that's amazing! (I was traditionally academic /difficult background.... Good uni... And now earn under 20k 😳. You've done amazing!)

Our apprentices come via Exeter. We sent two people, one year, (just graduated), and have not repeated it. The two ex HCAs we paid for told us of their 20-25% drop out rate. The effective 20 hours contact per semester. Our self-paid students are Portsmouth. Where one (access) doesn’t know the difference between a cervical spine and a cervix. I imagine she was ‘dragged through’. A huge shame as most of their radiography graduates are OK.

I have never heard of a ‘Accelerated Masters’ in radiography, so I can’t comment, sorry.

But I can tell you DCR (Diploma of the College of Radiographers) students, up until the 90s, definitely knew their arse from their elbow; many subsequent degree qualified radiographers, also; but now we have an increasing number of ‘access’ degree holders, so many who really don’t have any academic hinterland, like the one 8 GCSEs/3 A levels delivers, I think the profession, as a profession, is in trouble.

Your DD is way over-qualified.

I did an Access (quite a while ago now! They've been going for ages). Did an A Level (evenings) alongside, while also working. 1st at BA, distinction at MA. Top of my cohort for both.

TBH, the Access was never on my CV. Can see from some of the attitudes on here that was the right decision.

Oh I always include mine! IME companies/law firms find it interesting and impressive and it's a talking point at interviews/helps to build rapport (with the notable exception of one particular top law firm I applied for a training contract with. who I shall not name 🤣). Be proud of the route you've taken!

My son has just done an access course that leads into an Mplan degree in Urban studies & planning at Sheffield University, he has loved doing it. All of the tutors have said that students who have done the access course generally have better outcomes in their degree as they have spent a year learning how to formulate essays to get top marks, how to do research, even the simple things like getting used to how university life works. He has his last exam on Tuesday & that is his first year finished. He was a school refuser but hasn't missed hardly any time this year, even going back against medical advice after being in hospital.

And my DD was a similar age and had MH problems at 16 plus tried an apprenticeship but her employer was awful. Moved away and had a job for a while but the shop was hit by terrible flooding turned to an Access course completed that and then graduated in COVID with a first class honours.
Life can get in the way
I would view the course positively I completed it myself in the 90s. Good luck to your DD. She will meet a mixed bunch of people on the course too which is good for future working life.

Honestly, I know I'm banging on about it but it's such a good route. It's designed to get you into uni so in my experience the tutors were so so helpful with applications, personal statements and references etc as well as the actual coursework.

In my class of approx 20 on the access course I did at Bristol City College I think around 14 got into Bristol Uni, 3 went to Bath Uni and two to UWE as they wanted to study social work and UWE is better for that kind of thing. One got into Cambridge! None of us got no offers.

Your DC will be fine 🙂 I hope their health is better now x

My daughter finished an access course last week. It was very intense, with many assignments per half term.
She aced it and has secured a place at a RG uni (contextual offer). I'm very proud of her.
I teach in FE, and the content she covered was very similar to A Level. It's just assessed differently.