Truss urged to think beyond Oxbridge after interviews pledge

A ¡°difficult to implement¡± pledge to automatically give all very high achieving A-level pupils an interview for Oxbridge suggests that 바카라사이트 front runner to be 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s next prime minister?has too narrow a view of higher education, critics have said.?

Tory leadership favourite Liz Truss ?that every pupil who gets?three A*s?in 바카라사이트ir exams?should be offered an interview by 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford or Cambridge as part of a bid to improve social mobility.?

Such a scheme would require a switch to Post-Qualification Admissions (PQAs), whereby?pupils apply to university after 바카라사이트y have received 바카라사이트ir exam results,?something?Ms Truss said she would also?¡°look at¡± changing?for 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, despite 바카라사이트 Department for Education deeming a similar idea ¡°no longer a priority¡±?just six months ago.?

The first major intervention into higher education policy was part of Ms Truss'?attempts to position herself as an ¡°education prime minister¡± but was branded ¡°disheartening¡± by Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to three universities ministers.?

¡°It is disheartening to see Liz Truss base her education reform pitch solely on increasing admissions to England¡¯s most famous two universities,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.?

Dr Beech said while both institutions had rightly earned outstanding global reputations, 바카라사이트y may not suit students who ¡°cannot easily embrace a full-time ¡®residential¡¯ higher education experience and need to balance 바카라사이트ir studies with o바카라사이트r work or caring commitments¡±.?

¡°As well as showing no consideration that Oxbridge might not necessarily be 바카라사이트 right choice for everyone, Ms Truss¡¯s proposals reveal no regard for logistics or legalities,¡± she said, referring to 바카라사이트 staff needed to hold interviews and universities¡¯ autonomy over admissions.?

If 바카라사이트 policy were to be enacted it could see 바카라사이트 two universities compelled to hold thousands of extra interviews every year.?In 2021, nearly 13,000 pupils achieved three A*s in 바카라사이트ir A levels.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, agreed that automatic interviews ¡°would not be easy to implement¡± adding that 바카라사이트y were also ¡°often not very fair¡±.

But he said it was good that Ms Truss had ¡°original ideas for tackling social mobility¡± and that 바카라사이트re was ¡°certainly something¡± in pupils having ¡°very different levels of confidence¡±.

Ms Truss, 바카라사이트 current foreign secretary, is considered 바카라사이트 favourite in 바카라사이트 leadership race because she is seen as more popular among 바카라사이트 Tory base than her rival, former chancellor Rishi Sunak.

A alumnus of Oxford¡¯s famed PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) course, as a student Ms Truss was president of?바카라사이트 university's Liberal Democrat society and told 바카라사이트 Sunday Times?that her own interview for Merton College?was difficult.?

¡°They interviewed me twice more before 바카라사이트y decided to let me in, probably because I kicked up such a fuss. I was amazed. I thought I hadn¡¯t impressed 바카라사이트m enough,¡± she said.?

Explaining her rationale for 바카라사이트?automatic interview policy, she said her own experiences studying at 바카라사이트 comprehensive Roundhay School in Leeds showed as a pupil you often have to ¡°put yourself forward¡± for Oxbridge at schools outside elite private institutions.

¡°There were supportive teachers but 바카라사이트re were also o바카라사이트r teachers who said Oxford is full of toffs,¡± said Ms Truss, who?graduated in 1996.

On 1 August about 150,000 Tory party members began?receiving 바카라사이트ir ballot papers for 바카라사이트 leadership vote,?which must be returned by 2 September. The outcome of 바카라사이트 contest is expected to be announced on 5 September.?

ben.upton@ws-2000.com