Response to Department for Education consultation on 16-19 accountability

03 December 2013

In 2013 the Department for Education in England consulted on measures included in the secondary school performance tables, including two AAB measures in facilitating subjects aimed at recognising high quality qualifications and performance.

The facilitating subjects are the subjects most commonly required for entry to degree courses at Russell Group universities. In our guide Informed Choices we advise that students unsure of what they want to study at university should consider choosing two of these subjects, to keep their options open.

While we welcome the publication of information that will help students and their parents make good choices, performance against the AAB measures in facilitating subjects should not be used as ‘shorthand’ for the number of pupils in a school who are qualified to apply successfully to a Russell Group university.

It is particularly important that students, parents and teachers do not confuse the concept of the AAB measures in facilitating subjects with university entry requirements. Entry requirements vary between courses and institutions, and are published on university websites.

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