The A levels are coming in for some criticism. Many schools and students are opting to do the International Bacalaureat which has a much broader range.
The main difference between many degrees and the ATPL stuff is the amount of free thinking allowed. With the ATPL, the aim is to pass the exams, so questions such as why.....? usually elicit the answer in the order of "you wont get a qestion like that in the exam so dont bother".
As someone who went through university 30 years ago even on what was regarded as a vocational type of course, the why questions were always the best.
Remember, the aims and objectives of a degree course and the ATPL are different.
The ATPL is to do something specific - it has no role in developing the enquiring mind, set off the imagination and stuff like that - its to pass the exam.
The degree is as much about the training of the mind, learning research techniques, turning thoughts into arguments and then expressing them.
Frankly any good graduate should be able to into any professional activity and do well having a well trained mind, they have the tools to continue learning. Doing the ATPL will frustrate the hell out of them because of the "non" learning style of "learning".
The ATPL - learn by rote and continue to learn by rote. Learning as much as is required for the next test and that's it.
The best aviation degree courses are those on offer in many of the US universities where there is some real academic rigour as well as the learning to fly. Some are engineering led, others are aviation business management led.