AS the apprenticeship route thrives in Barrow and Furness, a study has shown that university applications for the constituency feature in the bottom 10 nationwide.

Ucas figures show that the university application rate for Barrow an Furness in 2017 was 21.2 per cent. This was the ninth lowest in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Analysis of Ucas data reveals that on average this year, 55 per cent of 18-year-olds living in the top 10 per cent of parliamentary constituencies in terms of university applications applied for a degree course by the main January 15 deadline.

Statistics suggest a student's chances of applying for a degree course depend heavily on where they live. Just 24 per cent of youngsters living in the bottom 10 per cent of constituencies applied by the same point.

The highest application rate was in Wimbledon, in south-west London, where 70.3 per cent applied. At the other end of the scale Havant, in Hampshire, has a rate of 17.4 per cent.

The Barrow and Furness applications are down two percentage points on those a decade ago, but the rise in the popularity of apprenticeships and higher apprenticeship study with industry continues in Barrow and Furness. People can go on to study degrees after apprenticeships.

The LEP Skills Investment Plan says that in Cumbria, apprenticeships are more common than elsewhere with 11 per cent choosing an apprenticeship as their post-16 destination compared with four per cent nationally.

Andrew Wren is the principal and chief executive of Furness College, which incorporates the Channelside campus and Barrow Sixth Form College, in Rating Lane.

Mr Wren said across the two campuses there had been nearly 330 university applications this year.

He said: “Last year more than 60 per cent of students from the sixth form campus went to university with nearly a quarter taking up places at prestigious universities, including Cambridge University. Many were first in their family to secure university places.

"Others went onto higher apprenticeships, apprenticeships and jobs with employers including BAE Systems, Sellafield and GSK.

“Barrow Sixth Form College has always had a high number of students going to university when compared to the national picture and figures are still high. However, this year there has been a two per cent drop in the number of students applying for university courses from sixth form because in previous years we have bucked the trend.

“We know that higher apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular progression route for our students because the growth in industry locally has opened up more opportunities to go from A-Levels into careers such as finance, nuclear and project management. This way they can study a degree while working.

“We try to encourage those who are keen on a higher apprenticeship to keep their options open and also apply to university so they have the choice when they get their grades. We know this is considered favourably by employers who are seeking a mix of talented students for their future workforce both after A-Level and also graduates.”

Jo Anson, director of curriculum, higher education at Furness College, said the figures did not include direct entry university applications.

Mrs Anson said: “In addition to those who apply directly to university through UCAS, there are approximately 200 students each year who progress into the higher education courses we offer at Channelside, including degree courses.

"Some 96 per cent of our students go on from here to a positive destination such as employment or higher education so it is a healthy picture of students progressing in education and gaining higher level skills.”