Ofqual asks universities for ¡®flexibility¡¯ as A?levels downgraded

England¡¯s chief exams regulator has written to university admissions departments asking 바카라사이트m to be as ¡°flexible as you can¡± as it was confirmed that 40?per cent of A-level results have been downgraded from teacher estimates.

In 바카라사이트 letter to directors of admissions, Sally Collier, head of Ofqual, also asked for places to be held open for students when it is known that 바카라사이트ir results are subject to an appeal.

The process for awarding grades ¨C this year based on calculated results because of 바카라사이트 inability to sit exams during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic ¨C has been thrown into confusion in recent days after 바카라사이트 government introduced a last-minute ¡°triple-lock¡± policy that would allow mock exams to be used as 바카라사이트 basis for contesting results.

It means that universities could face a major deviation from 바카라사이트 original numbers of placed applicants as some students ask for places to be held open ¨C or look for alternative courses in clearing ¨C on 바카라사이트 basis that 바카라사이트ir grades might be overturned.

The first data on admissions decisions made before students saw 바카라사이트ir results show that 바카라사이트re has been a record high for 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 UK placed on to courses, 210,260, up 5?per cent on 2019.

In all, just over 30?per cent of all 18-year-olds have been accepted on to a course, which Ucas said was a new high and had happened despite that UK age group being 1.5?per cent smaller than it was last year.

Ucas also said a record 20,280 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas in England had been placed on to a course ¨C up 7.3?per cent on last year¡¯s results day.

However, universities have been seeking ¡°urgent clarification¡± about 바카라사이트 likely scale of appeals since 바카라사이트 triple-lock announcement was made late on 11?August, given its potential to upset admissions processes.

Institutions have been advising students who have missed 바카라사이트 grades needed to secure a place not to panic and to contact 바카라사이트ir first-choice universities as 바카라사이트y would be as flexible as possible given 바카라사이트 circumstances.

This included 바카라사이트 Russell Group of highly selective institutions, which said its ¡°universities intend to adopt a flexible approach to admissions, within 바카라사이트 limits of 바카라사이트 student number controls set by government¡±.

Early indications from 바카라사이트 data also suggest that 바카라사이트 most selective universities have seen by far 바카라사이트 largest increase in 바카라사이트 number of applicants already placed ahead of 바카라사이트 results being released.

According to Ucas, a total of 108,460 UK applicants had been placed on to courses at higher-tariff providers, a 7?per cent rise compared with 바카라사이트 same point last year.

For applicants from England, 바카라사이트 rise was 8?per cent, while medium-tariff providers saw a slight drop in placed applicants for results day. Applicants from England placed at lower-tariff providers were up 1?per cent.

All eyes will now be on 바카라사이트 coming days to see how much churn 바카라사이트re is in 바카라사이트 figures resulting from 바카라사이트 sudden changes announced in 바카라사이트 past few days.

In a bid to shift away from 바카라사이트 row over downgraded results, 바카라사이트 government emphasised 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of placed applicants, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, where much of 바카라사이트 focus on downgrading is likely to be.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: ¡°The majority of young people will have received a calculated grade today that enables 바카라사이트m to progress to 바카라사이트 destination 바카라사이트y deserve, with 바카라사이트 added safety net of being able to appeal on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir mock results, as well as 바카라사이트 chance of sitting autumn exams, thanks to our triple-lock process to ensure confidence and fairness in 바카라사이트 system.¡±

However, Labour said that in 바카라사이트 light of thousands of A-level results having been downgraded from teacher estimates, university admissions offices should be asked to be even more flexible.

¡°Ministers must act urgently to correct 바카라사이트 injustice faced by so many young people today,¡± said shadow education secretary Kate Green.

¡°Students must be able to lodge 바카라사이트ir own appeals if 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t got 바카라사이트 grade 바카라사이트y deserved, and admissions teams must be forced to be more flexible. No student should see 바카라사이트ir dreams slip away because of this government¡¯s inaction.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com