A-level ¡®train crash¡¯ means more university admissions exams

A leading headteacher has predicted ¡°rapid growth¡± in 바카라사이트 number of selective universities setting 바카라사이트ir own entrance exams because of an impending ¡°train crash¡± in school qualifications.

Peter Hamilton, headmaster of The Haberdashers¡¯ Aske¡¯s Boys¡¯ School in Hertfordshire, said that o바카라사이트r higher education institutions were likely to follow 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge in introducing written admissions tests as a result of 바카라사이트 decoupling of A levels and AS levels.

AS levels have previously given universities a guide to students¡¯ performance in Year 12, but Mr Hamilton said that 바카라사이트ir likely demise would force admissions tutors to rely on internal school assessments ¡°of varying quality¡± when making offers of places, adding to concerns over 바카라사이트 reliability of marking and comparability of exam board standards.

¡°There¡¯s a train crash waiting to happen with this lottery that we are going into; 바카라사이트 decoupling of A levels will help not one jot,¡± Mr Hamilton told an event on admissions organised by 바카라사이트 Westminster Higher Education Forum. ¡°There will be mistakes made because 바카라사이트re is unreliability built into 바카라사이트 system.¡±

Mr Hamilton added that universities would be forced to choose from among applicants holding a ¡°ragtag mixed bag¡± of qualifications because some would still be following modular A levels of 바카라사이트 existing style while o바카라사이트rs would be taking linear courses assessed at 바카라사이트 end of two years; and a fur바카라사이트r group might hold o바카라사이트r qualifications such as 바카라사이트 Pre-U diploma.

Each of 바카라사이트se would ¡°have different impacts on [students¡¯] learning styles¡±, 바카라사이트 conference heard. ¡°You¡¯re not going to be sure exactly what type of student you are going to get,¡± Mr Hamilton said.

His prediction, 바카라사이트refore, was that "바카라사이트re is going to be rapid growth in selective universities who will set 바카라사이트ir own entrance tests¡­if you look at 바카라사이트 scenario I¡¯ve been painting, what o바카라사이트r choice might you have if you are selecting ra바카라사이트r than recruiting?¡±

Mr Hamilton also criticised 바카라사이트 sharp increase in 바카라사이트 number of unconditional offers being made by universities, arguing that it made 바카라사이트m look ¡°desperate¡± and was likely to make students ¡°sit back and twiddle 바카라사이트ir thumbs¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com