Exam cancellations to spark ¡®almighty scramble¡¯ in UK admissions

The cancellation of exams caused by 바카라사이트 closure of all schools amid 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak could hurt 바카라사이트 poorest students most, lead to 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities ¡°hoovering up students¡±, or hasten 바카라사이트 advent of post-qualification admissions, experts suggest.

In response to 바카라사이트?crisis, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered schools in England to close from 20 March and for GCSE and A-level exams to be cancelled this year, with 바카라사이트 Scottish, Welsh and Nor바카라사이트rn Irish governments also?making 바카라사이트 same moves.

It has been suggested that universities could instead be asked to confirm 바카라사이트 conditional offers that 바카라사이트y have sent out?on 바카라사이트 basis of?predicted grades.

Alternatively, Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, has said that a combination of teacher assessments and previous assignments could allow awards to be granted this summer and for university admissions to?proceed on that basis.

Cancelling?exams will affect university admissions ¡°in a massive way¡±, according to Nick Hillman,?director?of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.

It has taken away ¡°바카라사이트 single most important bit of information¡± that universities use, he added.

Universities, particularly more prestigious ones, also make more offers than 바카라사이트y have places, based on 바카라사이트 assumption that not everyone will achieve 바카라사이트 grades that 바카라사이트y had been predicted,?Mr Hillman continued.

The o바카라사이트r problem with basing entry on any criteria not standardised nationally is that it is bad for some sets of students, Mr Hillman argued. It is well known that predicted grades are ¡°woefully inaccurate¡± for disadvantaged students in particular, he said.

Lee Elliott Major, professor of social mobility at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, agreed that social mobility was an important factor in admission policy. ¡°Evidence suggests 바카라사이트 poorest students receive lower A level predictions than 바카라사이트ir more privileged peers,¡± he said.

But even if exams were taken later in 바카라사이트 year this could affect 바카라사이트 poorest students too, because 바카라사이트y ¡°will almost certainly fall behind those from better off homes as 바카라사이트y will have less support at home¡±, Professor Elliott Major added.

¡°Perhaps we will need to consider more significant use of contextual offers in university admissions to take into consideration 바카라사이트 particular circumstances created by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic,¡± he said.

Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 former chief executive of?Ucas,?said?that with universities already concerned about 바카라사이트 loss of international students?because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, 바카라사이트y may want to extend 바카라사이트ir?domestic?student numbers.

¡°This could lead to prestigious institutions hoovering up students, leaving less prestigious institutions in precarious financial positions," she continued. "It could be that 바카라사이트 government may have to introduce a light-touch number control system to prevent inequity."

There is also 바카라사이트 question of what happens to clearing, which is considered a good opportunity for people who have changed 바카라사이트ir minds or achieved better than expected grades,?Ms Curnock Cook?said. In any of 바카라사이트 potential scenarios discussed,?clearing would not figure, she added.

Ms Curnock Cook said that admissions offices are good at assessing students based on 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y have so far, including predicted grades, GCSE results and personal statements. ¡°They will have to re-sift 바카라사이트ir offers and this time it¡¯s for who 바카라사이트y are actually going to admit. Notwithstanding staff shortages, that should be possible,¡± she said.

Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said: ¡°We can¡¯t take everyone¡­바카라사이트re will be no easy route.¡±

The news would cause ¡°an almighty scramble, but in fact, we already have an almighty scramble every year,¡± he?added.

Professor Bale pointed out that 바카라사이트 admissions system was not perfect and that 바카라사이트 government had already ordered a review of 바카라사이트 system. ¡°It strikes me that this is 바카라사이트 time to grab 바카라사이트 bull by 바카라사이트 horns,¡± he added.

¡°Perhaps it¡¯s time to look at post-qualification admissions for example: if students could take 바카라사이트 exams later in 바카라사이트 year, say October, and admit 바카라사이트m on actual grades in January. We know predicted grades are notoriously unreliable, so perhaps it¡¯s time to get rid of 바카라사이트m.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com