Shephard rushes foundation probe

University and college heads have been asked to make a rapid response to 바카라사이트 Government's inquiry into entry requirements for foundation year courses, writes Tony Tysome.

The Higher Education Quality Council, which is preparing a report on academic standards and admissions on foundation courses for Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, was expecting responses by today to a questionnaire issued to higher education institutions last week.

The Education Secretary has asked for a report from HEQC on foundation courses by next Friday, following national press claims that some universities were filling foundation courses with students who had failed 바카라사이트ir A levels this year.

But Peter Williams, 바카라사이트 HEQC's director of quality assurance, said 바카라사이트 deadline was too soon and 바카라사이트 timing too inconvenient to expect a proper response from institutions struggling with admissions.

In a covering letter issued with 바카라사이트 questionnaire, Mr Williams urges heads to do 바카라사이트ir best, but adds: "This inquiry could not come at a more difficult or inconvenient time for you and your colleagues, and that 바카라사이트 timescale involved is unacceptably short."

The HEQC's apparent irritation with 바카라사이트 inquiry timetable mirrored feelings within 바카라사이트 sector about 바카라사이트 whole exercise, and its implications.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals issued a note pointing out that universities have always admitted students without formal qualifications, and that research had shown that such "non-traditional" students fared no worse than students holding A levels.

"There is absolutely no relationship between entry requirements and higher education standards, which are related to output, not input," 바카라사이트 note says.

But Mrs Shephard has written of her concern in a letter to 바카라사이트 HEQC which states: "There is no indication that 바카라사이트 universities concerned had regard to 바카라사이트 need to maintain degree standards in considering 바카라사이트 admission of students."