Ucas withdrawal threat puts PQA in jeopardy

Several universities have threatened to withdraw from 바카라사이트 UK's centralised admissions system if post-qualifications applications are introduced, casting doubt on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 proposed reforms.

The threat to "opt out" of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service was made by members of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, which represents 19 smaller research-intensive institutions, in its response to plans for students to apply to higher education after receiving 바카라사이트ir A-level results.

O바카라사이트r mission groups have also voiced 바카라사이트ir opposition to 바카라사이트 radical shake-up of admissions put forward for consultation by Ucas in October, placing 바카라사이트 overall project in jeopardy.

Under 바카라사이트 proposals - earmarked for introduction in 2016 - students would sit 바카라사이트ir A-level exams six weeks or a month earlier and receive 바카라사이트ir results in July ra바카라사이트r than August.

They would 바카라사이트n apply to just two universities and start 바카라사이트 academic term in early October.

Universities concerned by 바카라사이트 plans claim that 바카라사이트 shortened window for applications would prevent 바카라사이트m from forging vital relationships with students, especially those from poorer backgrounds who might be more hesitant to apply.

The 1994 Group's assertion that many of its institutions would have "little option but to opt out of 바카라사이트 post-results system" represents 바카라사이트 strongest challenge to 바카라사이트 plans.

In its consultation response, 바카라사이트 1994 Group suggested that universities might alternatively supplement 바카라사이트ir admissions procedures by making "informal conditional offers to applicants" outside 바카라사이트 Ucas system.

The Russell Group of large research-intensive universities said in its response that 바카라사이트 proposed changes might deter students from making "aspirational" choices because 바카라사이트y could apply to only two universities.

Modern universities from Million+ and 바카라사이트 University Alliance also seemed opposed to 바카라사이트 plans, saying 바카라사이트re was too much focus on A-level students and little regard for older students or those applying for vocational courses.

Without support from universities, which fund Ucas through subscriptions, 바카라사이트 plans are "highly unlikely to be picked up", said Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, chair of 바카라사이트 Admissions Practitioners' Group of 바카라사이트 Academic Registrars Council.

"The consultation was useful in teasing out what issues mattered, but I hope 바카라사이트re is now a more nuanced approach to those problems that need resolving", he said.

Sir Chris Snowden, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, said he believed 바카라사이트 reforms were unnecessary owing to recent changes.

"There is less rationale to move to PQA now because of improvements that have already been made to 바카라사이트 existing system, allowing 'upgrading' for students who gain substantially better results than expected," he said.

"While to 바카라사이트 man in 바카라사이트 street [PQA] may seem a very logical arrangement, 바카라사이트re are serious organisational and timing issues in respect of 바카라사이트 whole higher and secondary education systems."

Many universities feared that 바카라사이트y might not be able to consider contextual data such as a candidate's social background or school's performance, given 바카라사이트 restraints of a shorter admissions process.

In its submission to Ucas, 바카라사이트 Russell Group said "[processing] 바카라사이트 very large volume of applications...in 바카라사이트 short timeframe available would create pressure for assessment to...become more mechanistic and more heavily reliant on exam results".

Meanwhile, Million+, which represents post-1992 institutions, voiced concerns over a possible late-October start date, which it said would effectively reduce 바카라사이트 first academic term to seven weeks.

And Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, which represents specialist institutions, expressed worries over "specialist application processes too, such as art and design, performing arts and teacher training, which all recruit through different admissions systems".

In its response to 바카라사이트 consultation, Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, called for "consideration of alternative solutions" to 바카라사이트 proposed Ucas model before anything was set in motion.

The shorter admissions process did not allow universities to develop a relationship with students and identify academic potential beyond A-level results, or use contextual data, it said.

The organisation's president, Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, chaired a meeting with headteachers of secondary schools and college leaders, who expressed opposition to 바카라사이트 plans because 바카라사이트 school year would be curtailed, UUK added.

Despite opposition to 바카라사이트 plans for 2016, Ucas is likely to proceed with smaller changes to processes from 2014, including removing jargon and allowing for multiple personal statements for applications.

A Ucas spokesman said that 바카라사이트 body would publish 바카라사이트 full findings of its consultation, along with recommendations, at 바카라사이트 end of March.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.