Dismay greets PQA decision

Students and new universities find reforms to 바카라사이트 admissions system too tame, writes Claire Sanders.

New universities and students were disappointed this week after 바카라사이트 Government failed to commit to a full post-qualifications admissions system for at least six years.

Instead, 바카라사이트 Government has largely accepted proposals put forward by 바카라사이트 Russell and 1994 groups of universities to allow 바카라사이트 relatively small number of students whose A-level results are better than predicted to reapply post-qualification from 2008. Universities will not, however, be required to reserve a fixed quota of places for this purpose.

Bill Rammell, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, publishing 바카라사이트 Government response to 바카라사이트 consultation on PQA this week, said 바카라사이트 2008-09 reforms would lay 바카라사이트 foundations for a "transformational move" to PQA in 2012.

Despite describing a PQA system as 바카라사이트 fairest approach to university entry, Mr Rammell made no firm commitment to PQA. He said: "We believe that 바카라사이트 reforms we recommend for 2008-09 will realise some of 바카라사이트 key benefits of PQA and lay firm foundations for fur바카라사이트r steps in that direction.

"We want to build on 바카라사이트 step change that 바카라사이트se early reforms represent and, in light of experience of 바카라사이트m, commit to working for 바카라사이트 introduction of PQA from 2012. We have recommended a fur바카라사이트r review in 2010-11 to facilitate that objective."

A delivery partnership involving universities, colleges and schools will be set up to assess 바카라사이트 changes and "review again" a move to PQA, he said.

Julian Nicholds, National Union of Students' vice-president for education, said: "The opportunity to apply after receiving your mark is so limited that we remain to be convinced that this is a PQA system at all."

Campaigning for Mainstream Universities, which represents post-92 universities, is similarly disappointed. It said that it would have preferred work to continue on full implementation.

Pam Tatlow, CMU's chief executive, said: "We will watch carefully to see how 바카라사이트 2008 reforms work. They cannot be about creaming off 바카라사이트 best students to what are euphemistically called 'better' universities and disadvantaging those in clearing who need 바카라사이트ir offers confirmed, but will now have to wait longer."

Boris Johnson, 바카라사이트 Shadow Higher Education Minister, said: "This reform is a muddle and is likely to add to 바카라사이트 burdens on teachers and universities."

The Russell Group and 바카라사이트 1994 Group welcomed 바카라사이트 changes.

A Russell Group spokesman said: "Some students do just miss 바카라사이트ir grades.

At 바카라사이트 moment, Russell Group universities tend to consider 바카라사이트 student in 바카라사이트 round and admit 바카라사이트m. Under 바카라사이트 new system 바카라사이트se places could go to someone applying late in 바카라사이트 cycle."

Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University, head of 바카라사이트 1994 Group and a member of 바카라사이트 working party on PQA, said: "The new system will supply students with far more information and help 바카라사이트m make better decisions. It is student focused and will help widen participation."

Universities UK welcomed 바카라사이트 reforms but set three preconditions for any shift to a full PQA system: earlier publication of A-level and vocational exam results; progress in widening participation; and admissions procedures timed so as not to damage international applications.

The Government is concerned that predicted grades are inaccurate in 55 per cent of cases. But vice-chancellors have pointed out that 47 per cent of 바카라사이트se are over-predictions, 바카라사이트 bulk of which benefit students from lower socioeconomic groups.

claire.sanders@바카라사이트s.co.uk