The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has revealed a performance update on the next generation of barristers, based on data collected during the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).
Of 4,760 BPTC students between 2012 and 2014, 72% passed the course first time, and 11% of all graduates achieved the highest grade, “Outstanding”. More than a third of UK/EU domiciled graduates enrolled in 2011-2013 have since gained pupillage.
The number of women securing pupillage is now similar to that of men although more women are taking the BPTC than men. Performance in the BPTC is a better guide to future success in securing pupillage than performance in a first degree.
The Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), which prospective students take before beginning the course, seems to work. It was found to be a reliable indicator of grade and therefore a strong indicator of likely success when progressing to the Bar.
BSB director of education and training, Simon Thornton-Wood, says: “We are very aware that training to become a barrister can be expensive. We hope that the publication of [these] statistics will help students considering a career at the Bar to make a fully informed decision about their chances of success. However, when considering these statistics, I urge people not to look at any one factor or chart in isolation. There are many variables in play, and we intend our report to be considered in its entirety.”
.tmb-mov69x69.jpg?sfvrsn=6e6975ed_1)
