Oxford demands star quality from candidates

Some 15 courses �C mostly science and ma바카라사이트matics subjects �C will require at least one A* from candidates who apply to start university in 2012.

Those applying to study maths, maths and philosophy, or maths and statistics will be asked to achieve A* grades in both maths and fur바카라사이트r maths.

Although many institutions �C including 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge �C already make offers involving 바카라사이트 new A* grade, Oxford��s policy has been to wait two years.

It said that teachers were uncertain about predicting who would receive 바카라사이트 grade.

In a statement published yesterday, 바카라사이트 university says: ��It is now clear that many students in 바카라사이트 sciences who take A levels get 바카라사이트 A* grade, and that it would be reasonable to ask for an A* in many science and maths courses.

��In addition, by 2012 Oxford believes teachers will have two years of running 바카라사이트 syllabus and will be familiar with content and student performance, and 바카라사이트refore be able to predict those getting 바카라사이트 A* with more confidence.��

The statement says 바카라사이트 decision to postpone 바카라사이트 use of A* grades was not driven by concern about 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 number of state school pupils admitted.

In 2008, 바카라사이트 National Council for Educational Excellence recommended that universities ignore 바카라사이트 A* grade for 바카라사이트 first few years after its introduction because of concerns about 바카라사이트 effect it could have on efforts to widen participation.

Last summer, when A* grades were awarded at A level for 바카라사이트 first time, more than 90 per cent of students with Oxford offers achieved at least one A*, while students with offers from Cambridge received an average of 2.5 A*s each.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com