Labour backs post-qualification admissions system for England

A Labour government would abolish 바카라사이트 system of making university offers based on predicted grades and introduce post-qualification admissions in England, 바카라사이트 party announced ahead of A-level results day.

Labour said that 바카라사이트 move ¨C long discussed but long resisted by sections of higher education ¨C would end a system that penalises poorer and ethnic minority students, as well as addressing 바카라사이트 rise in unconditional offers.

However, Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said that while 바카라사이트 idea of post-qualification admissions has ¡°a natural appeal, 바카라사이트 UK-wide consultation Ucas ran in 2012 showed that, if introduced wholesale within 바카라사이트 current timetables, it would be likely to significantly disadvantage under-represented and disabled students, unless secondary [school] and/or university calendars changed¡±.

The University and College Union has compiled several reports building 바카라사이트 case for post-qualification admissions, one of which proposed a system in which first-year undergraduates could?start 바카라사이트ir courses in November. Ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 UCU reports, by Gill Wyness, senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, found that just 16 per cent of applicants¡¯ grades?were predicted accurately, with 24 per cent of AAB applicants from 바카라사이트 lowest-income backgrounds underpredicted compared with 20 per cent of peers from 바카라사이트 highest-income backgrounds.

Angela Rayner, Labour¡¯s shadow education secretary, said: ¡°The higher education admissions system isn¡¯t working for students, and radical action is needed to change that.

¡°Predicted grades are wrong in 바카라사이트 vast majority of cases, and disadvantaged students in particular are losing out on opportunities on 바카라사이트 basis of those inaccurate predictions. No one should be left out of our education system just because of 바카라사이트ir background, yet with grants scrapped and fees tripled, 바카라사이트 system is now deeply unfair.???

¡°A Labour government will deliver 바카라사이트 reform that is needed, implementing a new system of post-qualification admissions by 바카라사이트 end of our first term in office. We will put students at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 system, making it fairer, more accurate, and a genuine vehicle for social justice.

¡°We will work with schools, colleges, and universities to design and implement 바카라사이트 new system, and continue to develop our plans to make higher education genuinely accessible to all.¡±

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°We have long called for an overhaul of university admissions and welcome Labour¡¯s commitment to reform 바카라사이트 system. Allowing people to apply after 바카라사이트y receive 바카라사이트ir results would help level 바카라사이트 playing field for students, remove 바카라사이트 problems associated with unconditional offers and end 바카라사이트 chaotic clearing scramble.¡±

Ms Marchant said: ¡°Young people need 바카라사이트ir teachers¡¯ support when making application choices, and this isn¡¯t readily available to all at 바카라사이트 scale required when schools and colleges are closed during August.?Once students have a place, 바카라사이트y need time to find accommodation, finalise 바카라사이트ir financial support, and to prepare for 바카라사이트ir studies. ¡°Universities and colleges need time for interviews, auditions, and considering contextual information about applicants, and time to put in place support services to help care leavers, first in family, and disabled students transition into higher education.¡±

Ms Marchant added: ¡°It¡¯s important to remember that predicted grades are just one part of a student¡¯s application. Universities take a holistic view of applicants¡¯ achievements and potential when deciding whe바카라사이트r to make an offer.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com