Academic Summer CEO, Helen Lami, recently shared her concerns about the future of UK Education in an article in FE News entitled ‘Is the UK still the gold Standard of Education for International students?’

The online news channel has championed further education for over a decade, with high-profile thought leaders as contributors including British politicians such as the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. With Helen’s expertise in working with international students from across the world, this is a question she is well equipped to answer. 

The UK has long been at the forefront of education globally, but does this still hold true after Brexit and the Pandemic? While both have affected UK education, Helen believes Britain still has much to offer international students. However, she is concerned about UK education reforms like the proposed switch from A Levels to the new Advanced British Standard (ABS). We at Academic Summer think this is unnecessary. 

ABS, announced by Prime Minister Sunak in 2023 aims to put technical and academic education on an equal footing for 16 to 19-year-olds with an emphasis on English and mathematics. 

 

In the FE article, Helen explains the difference between A Levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and how the ABS change could affect students. Having spent 10 years working in international marketing for a leading boarding school and the past 16 years at the helm of Academic Summer she understands what international students are looking for. 

Last year our camps attracted 59 countries and we are expecting that figure to rise this year at our four camps in London Westminster; London City; Bristol; and Taunton. This is because so many international students want to come to England to experience UK education. British universities have a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and our Summer Schools offer a taste of what it could be like to study here, while developing their language skills through our CLIL approach. (Content and Language Integrated Learning) 

“International students contribute to the UK’s cultural, academic, and economic life and play a significant role in fostering international cooperation and understanding,” says Helen. “In 2022, international students contributed a net income of £37.4 billion to the UK economy, according to HEPI. Therefore, UK education is a valuable export for the country.”

UK Education options for 16 to 19-year-olds – A Levels vs ABS and IBD

Helen has been involved in promoting both A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and says there is a place for both as they suit different students. Both take two years with A Levels usually comprising of three subjects while the IBDP has six subjects across three core components. See A Levels vs IB – Which qualification is right for you? 

“The significant advantage of A Levels is that they are ideal for students who know precisely what they want to study at university in preparation them for a particular career,” Helen continues. “On the other hand, IB students tend to be good at all subjects, have a global perspective and want to continue exploring all areas of education available to them.”

The ABS which are set to replace A Levels will require students to keep studying maths and English in a broader curriculum of five subjects. Helen sees this as duplicating the IBDP. “Why does the UK need to reinvent a baccalaureate when there is already one that exists and is very popular both in the UK and internationally?” she asks.

Whatever choice students face, now and in the future, Academic Summer is committed to delivering the best possible first experience of UK education to students from across the world. 

Click to find out more about Helen read: Meet the Queen of British Summer Schools, Helen Lami.

2024/04/29