Alternative qualifications to A-levels are becoming increasingly popular in private schools, with record numbers of pupils taking BTECs this year, according to new figures.

New data published by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) shows a rise in the numbers of schools reporting that pupils are taking courses alongside, or as alternatives, to A-levels.

ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon suggested that schools are becoming more aware of the range of qualifications on offer for sixth-formers.

The ISC's figures show that A-levels are still by far the most popular courses, with 480 independent schools reporting that pupils had taken the qualifications this year, compared to 479 at the same point three years ago.

Just over 34,100 candidates took at least one A-level this year.
The statistics also show the proportions of fee-paying schools saying pupils are taking BTECS - a practical, vocational qualification - has gone up by 82 per cent over the last three years.

This year, 93 schools had pupils studying the courses, up from 51 in 2015.

In addition, the statistics show that 1,112 students took at least one BTEC this year, compared to 694 three years ago.

The figures are a snapshot of schools reporting results to the ISC on A-level results day each year.

Mr Lenon said: "The BTEC has obviously grown from a very small number to a larger number. That has happened because it has become recognised that the BTEC is now the normal route into university for quite a lot of students."

Schools have realised that some pupils benefit from doing practical courses, he added.

"For example, if you're very keen on engineering, you would do a BTEC, and you can go to university to study engineering with a BTEC."

The figures also show that the numbers of schools reporting results for the extended project qualification (EPQ) increased by 26 per cent since 2015, and that there were 6,318 candidates taking it this year compared to 3,202 three years ago.

The EPQ is a dissertation-style qualification often taken alongside A-levels.

Mr Lenon said that the government's decision to decouple AS-levels from A-levels to make them a standalone qualification may have contributed to the rise.

Students no longer take AS-levels as standard after one year of study before moving on to the second year of the full A-level course.

Mr Lenon said: "The EPQ has really massively grown. That is because with the de-coupling of AS-levels from A-levels, many schools decided to go down from four to three A-levels and to fill the gap with the EPQ, because they knew that universities really like the EPQ.

"It's a dissertation and you often have to do a dissertation at university. This is the only way, with the abolition of coursework at A-level, the only way you could demonstrate to a university that you are capable of doing independent research and writing a dissertation.

"Furthermore, if you are applying to university to study a subject that you do not do at A-level, like medicine, law, architecture, those sorts of subjects, then you can do an EPQ in that subject and so demonstrate to the university genuine interest and knowledge."

Other courses to see a rise in popularity, according to the ISC figures, is the Pre-U - an academic alternative to A-levels, with 92 schools reporting results up from 49 in 2015.

A total of 61 schools reported results for the International Baccalaureate, up from 59 three years ago.

Mr Lenon said he did not think the rises could be "seen as a criticism of A-levels, more individual schools becoming aware of the diversity of alternatives to suit their particular children".

The rises come amid a push by government to boost technical education, with ministers planning to introduce new practical courses called T-levels.

In May, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: "Whilst A-levels provide a world-class academic qualification, many technical education courses are undervalued by employers and don't always provide students with the skills they need to secure a good job - that has to change."