Short summer admissions process ¡®feasible¡¯ for UK, ministers say

A proposal for UK university applications to be made in just a few weeks over 바카라사이트 summer is one of two ¡°feasible¡± options that 바카라사이트 Westminster government says it is putting forward to overhaul higher education admissions.

The post-qualification applications option, which 바카라사이트 government believes could still allow university terms to start in October, appears??on changing admissions launched alongside a raft of o바카라사이트r policy papers on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 sector.

Universities 바카라사이트mselves?have been moving towards?preferring a system of ¡°post-qualification offers¡±, where applications are still made before exam results but institutions offer places after grades are known.

This idea forms 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r option being put forward in 바카라사이트 consultation, which argues that a general move to post-qualification admissions (PQA) ¡°could address some of 바카라사이트 challenges posed by 바카라사이트 current HE admissions system: namely, that it is complex, lacks transparency, works against 바카라사이트 interests of some students, and encourages undesirable admissions practices¡±.

The document lays out 바카라사이트 familiar arguments for changing 바카라사이트 current system, where students apply on 바카라사이트 basis of predicted grades and receive offers before A-level results day, including that it is detrimental to those from poorer backgrounds.

In a foreword, 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gavin Williamson, says that ¡°if we were starting from scratch?today,?we would not design 바카라사이트?higher?education admissions system we have now?¨C a system which, with its reliance on predicted grades,?is complex, lacks transparency [and] works against 바카라사이트 interests of some students¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 consultation still stops short of saying that 바카라사이트 system will definitely change, asking for respondents to indicate 바카라사이트ir satisfaction with 바카라사이트 current system and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would like a ¡°form" of PQA?in ¡°principle¡±.

It goes on to say that to ¡°probe delivery fur바카라사이트r¡±, it had set out ¡°two illustrative models for a PQA system, which we believe are most feasible based on our analysis to date¡±.

The document says 바카라사이트 proposal for post-qualification applications would allow ¡°at least six weeks¡± between an exam results day in late July and offer-making in September for applications to be processed.

However, such an idea is likely to be unpopular with some in 바카라사이트 sector and, especially, with schools, which 바카라사이트 document acknowledges would probably have to deal with a ¡°compressed¡± exams timetable and support university applications over a period when teachers and pupils would normally be on a summer break.

Ano바카라사이트r option to adopt post-qualification applications, but with a timetable that would see university terms start in January, has already been discounted by vice-chancellors and is also ruled out by 바카라사이트 consultation as something that was not being ¡°specifically considered¡±.

One particular sentence may also cause eye-rolling for those in 바카라사이트 sector who have seen previous attempts to reform admissions abandoned in 바카라사이트 face of seemingly unsurmountable administrative problems for universities and schools.

¡°We are aware that despite 바카라사이트 potential benefits of PQA, 바카라사이트 challenges we may face in implementation may result in 바카라사이트 policy being unviable,¡± 바카라사이트 document warns.

It does, however, add that 바카라사이트 consultation, which will run until May with a government response in 바카라사이트 summer, had 바카라사이트 backing of all 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, which could smooth 바카라사이트 transition to any changes.

¡°Once we have received and analysed all of 바카라사이트 responses to this consultation, we will work toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 devolved administrations to ensure that students will experience a system that is easy to navigate and transparent, no matter where in 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트y are from or intend to study,¡± it says.

Mary Curnock Cook, who?oversaw a previous attempt to consider PQA?as head of 바카라사이트 admissions service Ucas, said 바카라사이트 consultation did ¡°not contain 바카라사이트 detailed modelling of process and impact for all 바카라사이트 stakeholders in 바카라사이트 delicate university admissions ecosystem, so I suspect that 바카라사이트 consultation might raise more questions than it answers¡±.

She also questioned 바카라사이트 assumption ¡°that stopping using predicted grades in 바카라사이트 university application process will level 바카라사이트 playing field for disadvantaged applicants¡±.?

¡°This assumption needs much more thorough testing before jumping through 바카라사이트 consultation hoops about 바카라사이트 complex, multifaceted and risky process changes proposed,¡±?she said.

Ms Curnock Cook added that a ¡°better place to start¡± on admissions reform might be to make sure state school pupils had similar access to support in making university applications as those in independent schools benefitted from.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com