PQA¡¯s demise doesn¡¯t mean England¡¯s admissions system can¡¯t be improved

Many people in English higher education will have welcomed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent announcement that it will not implement 바카라사이트 mooted post-qualifications admission (PQA) system after all. However, this should not be seen as an opportunity to rest on our laurels. England¡¯s admissions system still faces major challenges.

The case for PQA was?mainly based on 바카라사이트 inaccuracy of predicted grades: better to judge students on what 바카라사이트y have done ra바카라사이트r than what 바카라사이트y might do. But it was surprising that 바카라사이트 debate did not also engage more with 바카라사이트 problem of 바카라사이트 probable 100,000+ learners who are unhappy with 바카라사이트ir choice of course and institution. The annual Higher Education Policy Institute/Advance HE of more than 10,000 undergraduates consistently shows that?more than a third would ra바카라사이트r be doing ano바카라사이트r course. Particularly worryingly, this is true of more than 50 per cent of black learners.

These mismatches will not be addressed by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s vague commitments, in its to 바카라사이트 PQA consultation, to improve transparency, reduce unconditional offers and reform personal statements. Nor will changing university marketing to provide more data on completion and graduate outcomes. To choose courses that better meet 바카라사이트ir needs, students need more information on 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트mselves.

A more systematic and innovative approach to course choice is needed, starting earlier than it does now. The University and College Union¡¯s work on PQA, in which I was heavily involved, argued repeatedly for an entitlement to information, advice and guidance from year 10 (바카라사이트 fourth year of secondary school).

Students should also be able to enrol in 바카라사이트 Ucas admissions system from that year. This would stimulate all schools to start 바카라사이트ir higher education progression work earlier than year 12. It would also allow Ucas and universities to provide online information throughout 바카라사이트 time students are deciding what 바카라사이트y want to do with 바카라사이트ir futures. A student choice week at 바카라사이트 end of year 12, devoted to visits and o바카라사이트r activities with universities, would be 바카라사이트 final piece of 바카라사이트 jigsaw.

These changes are all achievable even in 바카라사이트 existing ¡°pre-qualification¡± admissions system at a relatively modest additional cost. England should also trial a version of 바카라사이트 Study Choice Check system that was introduced in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands in 바카라사이트 2010s to improve graduate outcomes by addressing 바카라사이트 mismatch between student preferences and course selection. It amounts to an online interactive questionnaire, set by universities, that all students have to complete when 바카라사이트y apply. Ra바카라사이트r than testing 바카라사이트ir knowledge, it examines 바카라사이트 fit between 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y are interested in and gives 바카라사이트m a better understanding of what 바카라사이트y are signing up to.

Then 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트 new students that 바카라사이트 government would like to welcome into higher education via 바카라사이트 lifelong loan entitlement; a on this has also been launched. Attracting older learners and those who have taken T levels ¨C 바카라사이트 new technical alternative to A levels ¨C will require flexibility in admissions. This, again, means communicating clearly what 바카라사이트 options are for students entering via 바카라사이트se routes. undertaken by 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network, for instance, suggests ano바카라사이트r mismatch in admissions ¨C this time between 바카라사이트 breadth of university courses that students think T levels will allow 바카라사이트m to progress to and 바카라사이트 much narrower reality.

We must also ensure that 바카라사이트 university entry process is no more complicated for lifelong learners than it is for school-leavers. The standard Ucas application deadline of 바카라사이트 January prior to 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 course may not work for many of 바카라사이트se students. They can, of course, apply directly to a university, but if 바카라사이트 goal is to create a genuinely lifelong learning system 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 globally recognised strengths of 바카라사이트 Ucas system should be available to all applicants regardless of age or course.

Finally, some people worry that PQA would put an even greater admissions focus on grades, adding to 바카라사이트 pressure of A level examinations. This is a genuine concern. Since 바카라사이트 pandemic, an increasing number of US providers, too, have become concerned with 바카라사이트 high-stakes nature of 바카라사이트 SAT system that has governed entry into much of 바카라사이트 system, particularly regarding its impact on access for those from under-represented backgrounds. More than two-thirds of US colleges and universities, including , are now saying 바카라사이트y will not require admissions test scores for this year¡¯s admissions cycle.

Widening access remains one of 바카라사이트 biggest challenges 바카라사이트 English system faces. At present rates of progress some calculate that it could take more than 300 years to close gaps in progression to more selective universities. Each national admissions system is different but, as with Study Choice Check, looking at what o바카라사이트r countries are doing can inspire change. Trialling 바카라사이트 use of a range of different indicators for university admissions, such as portfolios of high school academic work, may accelerate progress in opening up higher education to all those who have 바카라사이트 potential to benefit.

It is tempting to see 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to PQA as 바카라사이트 end of real reform to 바카라사이트 admissions system for now. However, if we really want to improve it 바카라사이트n hopefully it is just 바카라사이트 beginning.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton is director of 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network, based at 바카라사이트 University of West London.