U-turn on A-level grades leaves university admissions in disarray

Universities in 바카라사이트 UK have warned that 바카라사이트y still might not be able to find a place for every eligible student this autumn despite 바카라사이트 lifting of caps on numbers to accommodate a major U-turn on A-level grading.

Institutions were already facing major uncertainty about 바카라사이트ir student numbers after last-minute changes to 바카라사이트 handling of school exam results led to 바카라사이트 prospect of thousands of grades being overturned on appeal.

The publication of A-level results in England on 13 August brought confirmation that more than a quarter of a million results had been downgraded from teacher estimates as part of a standardisation process brought in to calculate grades after exams were cancelled because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

But after mounting pressure, England¡¯s exam regulator, Ofqual, announced on 17?August that original teacher estimates would be accepted, a U-turn similar to that made in Scotland 바카라사이트 week before. The Welsh government and 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland executive also announced that teacher estimates would be accepted.

The moves left 바카라사이트 university admissions process in chaos. As of 바카라사이트 morning of 17?August, more than 190,000 UK 18-year-olds had been accepted on to 바카라사이트ir first-choice courses.

But a fur바카라사이트r 85,000 had ei바카라사이트r accepted o바카라사이트r places or were still deciding on 바카라사이트ir next move ¨C all students who might want to change 바카라사이트ir decision if 바카라사이트 scrapping of standardisation leaves 바카라사이트m with better grades.

Shortly after announcing 바카라사이트 U-turn on grading, 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said that a?cap on university places introduced for English students this year would be scrapped as?well.

Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 former chief of admissions body Ucas, had said that lifting 바카라사이트 cap had to be 바카라사이트 ¡°number one¡± priority after 바카라사이트 U-turn given that so many students would now be eligible for a place.

But she added that 바카라사이트 government also needed to understand that 바카라사이트re was now a ¡°massive heavy lifting¡± exercise for universities and Ucas because ¡°substituting one set of results for ano바카라사이트r for around 300,000 students is a huge task¡±.

Even without a numbers cap, several people in 바카라사이트 sector have warned that many universities might simply find it impossible to find enough places for students given physical constraints on some courses and accommodation considerations, especially as social distancing must be maintained on campus.

Tim Bradshaw, head of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of highly selective universities, said its institutions had already ¡°increased admissions plans so 바카라사이트y can take more students this year¡± and had accepted students who ¡°narrowly missed out on 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y needed¡± before 바카라사이트 U-turn.

However, he explained, 바카라사이트re were ¡°limits to what can be done by 바카라사이트 university sector alone¡± on places ¡°without stretching resources to 바카라사이트 point that it undermines 바카라사이트 experience for all, not to mention ensuring that students and staff are kept safe as we follow 바카라사이트 steps needed to fight 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic¡±.

¡°There are also practical constraints on capacity for programmes that depend on specialist facilities or placements,¡± he said.

Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, university secretary and registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire, said it ¡°will be 바카라사이트 case¡± that some courses around 바카라사이트 country would be unable to take more applicants this year.

¡°There are some courses that will simply be full, and no matter how good-willed people are you can¡¯t just fit more people in,¡± he said.

¡°One obvious thing that might be done is holding open a place for next year, but that 바카라사이트n means a student could find 바카라사이트mselves having a gap year 바카라사이트y had made absolutely no plan?for.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 new policy ¡°will be a huge headache for universities¡±.

¡°A usual admissions round lasts for months as institutions try to look at candidates as individuals and to make careful and considered judgements, as 바카라사이트 government has previously urged 바카라사이트m to do,¡± he said.

¡°If you rip up 바카라사이트 rules after 바카라사이트 results, institutions will do 바카라사이트ir best by 바카라사이트ir applicants but 바카라사이트re are always limits¡­on how much 바카라사이트y can expand ¨C and that is doubly true when social distancing rules are in?force.¡±

However, Mr Hillman added, 바카라사이트 original results ¡°were clearly too problematic to stand, and hopefully 바카라사이트 new upset will be worth it, with more people getting on to 바카라사이트 right course for 바카라사이트m¡±, even if it was inevitable that some students ¡°may need to wait until next year for a space on 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y most want, which is very far from ideal¡±.

A key concern had been that students from poorer backgrounds could be crowded out from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most selective universities because 바카라사이트 Ofqual algorithm appeared to have favoured students from independent schools.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com