The tension in the Couchman household on Tuesday morning was unbearable. My daughter was one of the many thousands across the country anxiously awaiting A-Level results. It would be more than simply celebration or disappointment. The opening of the envelope promised to be a life-changing moment that would determine not just the next few years of education but, in all likelihood, the course of her career. Mercifully, after a very difficult 18 months for students everywhere, she did well – and I’m impossibly proud of her. Later however, after the news had sunk in, I reflected on the pressure she had been under, like all A-level students before her. Knowing that a poor grade can have such a significant impact on the future seems not only cruel but also irrational. As someone who is fortunate enough to be in a senior position in my field, I have a good understanding of the skills and qualities required to make it in the tech industry. Without a doubt, it is those who are capable, well-rounded, thoughtful, determined, and passionate who stand out and go far – and yet the sum total of those skills is not always reflected in that dreaded envelope.…
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Snapchat: University degrees can't be the main avenue into the tech industry
