Students might benefit from working first

The Association of School and College Leaders wants A-Level candidates to be able to apply to university after they have received their results. This is an excellent idea; but only if it leads to students working for a year before starting their degree studies. In addition to giving them a taste of the world outside education, this would provide school-leavers with experience of full-time work — helpful in planning study timetables and working to deadlines at university, which requires greater automony than school, and in understanding the kinds of requirements employers have, such as team-working — and an opportunity to earn, save and practise managing their own money, not to mention items to make their CVs look fuller.

Given rising unemployment levels, however, it's unlikely to happen. After all, hasn't the number of university places been increased to keep students off the unemployment lists?