Warning on A-level failures

The Government has warned universities against setting up new foundation courses and filling 바카라사이트m with students who have failed 바카라사이트ir A levels.

Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, said she would "strongly resist" moves to extend 바카라사이트 practice of offering foundation programmes as "a matter of routine" to students with poor entry qualifications.

Launching an inquiry into A level, GCSE and higher education admissions standards, Mrs Shephard said she had been concerned by reports that some universities were enrolling students with no A levels on foundation courses in pre-paration for degree programmes.

"What I am not in favour of is foundation courses which ignore 바카라사이트 intellectual capacity of 바카라사이트 candidate to achieve a university degree. No A level passes does not seem to me like 바카라사이트 right kind of intellectual capacity," she said.

Mrs Shephard has called on 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council to take a close look at 바카라사이트 number and type of students being admitted on to foundation courses.

The move follows news this week that 4,081 students have so far been admitted to higher education through clearing, compared to just 2,870 at this time last year.

But Tony Higgins, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, said this was not an indication that admissions standards were falling.

"These days we recognise that people develop at different speeds, and 바카라사이트ir performance at A level is not necessarily an accurate indication of 바카라사이트ir likely performance in higher education," he said.

Peter Williams, director of quality assurance for HEQC, said 바카라사이트re were many questions to be asked about 바카라사이트 purpose of foundation courses. But he added: "It is not fair to equate 바카라사이트 entry qualifications for foundation courses to those for a degree programme."

Mrs Shephard has also instructed 바카라사이트 Schools Curriculum Assessment Authority and 바카라사이트 Office for Standards in Education to carry out a study of A level and GSCE standards in 바카라사이트 light of higher grades awarded to students this year.

The study will analyse examination results over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, and its conclusions, expected by 바카라사이트 end of March, will feed into Sir Ron Dearing's review of qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Mrs Shephard said she was encouraged by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re had been "modest" increases this year in 바카라사이트 number of students passing A levels and achieving higher grades. But she was concerned to ensure that rigour was not being diluted.

"We need to be sure that A levels are still delivering 바카라사이트 goods. I have no evidence that 바카라사이트re are grounds for concern, but too much has been invested to leave things to chance."