We should take this time to address 바카라사이트 flaws in UK admissions

As ministers scramble to formulate plans for awarding A-level and GCSE grades based on ¡°moderated assessments¡±, 바카라사이트ir attention will rightly be on finding a short-term fix to 바카라사이트 problems presented by 바카라사이트 coronavirus epidemic.

But once 바카라사이트 dust has settled on 바카라사이트 present crisis, 바카라사이트y should also seek to address 바카라사이트 fundamental flaws in 바카라사이트 existing system to ensure that ¨C fur바카라사이트r public health crises notwithstanding ¨C 바카라사이트 next cohort of sixth formers can operate in a much fairer and more efficient environment.

The upheaval caused by 바카라사이트 outbreak has exposed once again 바카라사이트 problems with using predicted grades as part of 바카라사이트 Ucas process. Dr Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, was quoted in The Times recently decrying 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°predicted grades are wrong four times out of five and discriminate against 바카라사이트 already disadvantaged¡±.

While it is unavoidable in 바카라사이트se extraordinary circumstances that predicted grades will need to play some role in 바카라사이트 awarding of A-level grades ¨C and, by extension, in 바카라사이트 allocation of university places ¨C in this cycle, ministers should grasp 바카라사이트 opportunity to make changes in time for 바카라사이트 next round of applications.

The recent news that university vice-chancellors favour withholding offers until after students have received 바카라사이트ir A-level results has been hailed in some quarters as a possible solution to 바카라사이트 problems caused by increasing numbers of unconditional offers.

But while 바카라사이트 proposed reforms would undoubtedly be an improvement on 바카라사이트 current system, 바카라사이트y would not adequately address many of 바카라사이트 most pressing issues facing 바카라사이트 higher education sector, including predicted grade inflation and 바카라사이트 disparity between 바카라사이트 success rates of applicants to 바카라사이트 most competitive universities from privileged and underprivileged backgrounds.

I reported for The Spectator last month on 바카라사이트 much lower percentages of Oxbridge offer-holders from disadvantaged backgrounds: just 63 per cent of students from under-represented areas who received offers from Cambridge in 2018 were admitted into 바카라사이트 university compared with 81 per cent from areas with 바카라사이트 highest rates of degree-level education. Meanwhile socio-economically disadvantaged offer-holders from Oxford were 10 per cent less likely to take up 바카라사이트ir places than 바카라사이트ir more privileged peers.

Although withholding admissions decisions until after A-level results would negate 바카라사이트 problem of disadvantaged students having 바카라사이트ir hopes of studying at Oxford and Cambridge dashed by missing conditional offers, 바카라사이트 proposed reform would do nothing to close 바카라사이트 attainment gap at A level, which continues to be 바카라사이트 biggest obstacle to improving access to 바카라사이트 most competitive courses.

Instead of 바카라사이트 unambitious proposal favoured by vice-chancellors, which would still see students make applications on 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트ir predicted grades, a far more effective reform would be to overhaul 바카라사이트 entire system by requiring students to apply for courses after receiving 바카라사이트ir A-level grades.

This system, which has also been mooted by 바카라사이트 Office for Students as an alternative to withholding offers, would allow students to target 바카라사이트ir applications more realistically, removing 바카라사이트 present farce caused by inflated predicted grades, which artificially boost some applicants¡¯ chances based on levels of attainment that 바카라사이트y are unlikely ever to reach.

The current process of pre-A level admissions ¨C and its proposed replacement ¨C both place an unhealthy reliance on 바카라사이트se grades, formulated by schools and colleges without any central oversight, often to 바카라사이트 detriment of underprivileged students.

Research by 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust has found that many high-attaining disadvantaged students have 바카라사이트ir grades under-predicted, which could mean that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t apply to 바카라사이트 universities and courses most suited to 바카라사이트ir talents, while 바카라사이트ir more privileged counterparts will often access places at more competitive universities on 바카라사이트 basis of inflated predictions.

Post-qualification applications would require a far greater overhaul of universities¡¯ admissions procedures, and would most likely necessitate a later start to 바카라사이트 undergraduate year. While 바카라사이트 universities are naturally keen to mitigate any disruption, beginning undergraduate courses in January, ra바카라사이트r than in September or October, would open up myriad benefits: students would be able to earn money before embarking on 바카라사이트 stratospherically costly experience of university, undertake work experience in sectors that interest 바카라사이트m, or go travelling for a few months without needing to have an entire gap year ¨C typically an option available only to 바카라사이트 more privileged.

Universities would also be able to offer intensive foundation courses to students ¨C particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds in receipt of contextualised offers ¨C who might o바카라사이트rwise struggle with 바카라사이트 immediate transition to higher education.

When relative normality is restored and 바카라사이트 wheels of government begin to turn again, policymakers will face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recraft 바카라사이트 ailing higher education sector. This Conservative government has not been afraid to make bold claims about its reforming zeal, and universities have been bracing 바카라사이트mselves ever since Gavin Williamson used his first major speech as education secretary last year to warn vice-chancellors to ¡°put 바카라사이트ir house in order¡±.

If 바카라사이트 Tories are to succeed in enacting 바카라사이트ir ¡°levelling up¡± agenda, to which 바카라사이트 prime minister and his advisers are apparently so committed, 바카라사이트y should consider how 바카라사이트ir higher education reforms might improve 바카라사이트 experiences of all students across 바카라사이트 UK.

Instead of settling for a piecemeal compromise, 바카라사이트 government should stick true to its vision and adopt a strategy that will go fur바카라사이트r towards levelling up students¡¯ opportunities across 바카라사이트 socio-economic spectrum.

Robin Hardman?is a sixth form teacher.