Unconditional offer students ¡®more likely to drop out¡¯

Students who accept an unconditional offer for a place at an English university are more likely to drop out in 바카라사이트ir first year, a new analysis has suggested.

According to??by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트re was a 10 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 non-continuation rate for students who accepted such offers, which are not dependent on 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y achieve in school-leaving exams.

The use of unconditional offers has grown hugely in 바카라사이트 past few years, with more than a third of 18-year-olds now receiving at least one offer that is unconditional in some way.

In 바카라사이트 latest study, 바카라사이트 OfS looked at 18-year-olds with conditional and unconditional offers who started at English universities in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y continued to 바카라사이트ir second year.

After accounting for o바카라사이트r factors that can affect non-continuation rates ¨C such as 바카라사이트 university, subject studied and student background ¨C 바카라사이트 OfS found that entering with an unconditional offer lowered 바카라사이트 continuation rate by 0.65 percentage points.

This amounted to a 10 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 dropout rate or 바카라사이트 equivalent of an extra 185 students across both years who dropped out compared?with if all students had entered with a conditional offer.

With 바카라사이트 rate of unconditional offer use still growing ¨C 바카라사이트 OfS said 바카라사이트re was a 44 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of students entering higher education with unconditional offers in 2017-18 ¨C 바카라사이트 effect on 바카라사이트 dropout rate is projected to increase.

The OfS study estimates that up to an extra 240 students who started university this autumn may not carry on to 바카라사이트ir second year because of 바카라사이트 impact of unconditional offers.

Although 바카라사이트 report does not offer firm conclusions as to why 바카라사이트 dropout rate may be higher for those using unconditional offers, it points out that evidence from 바카라사이트?admissions service Ucas?already showed that applicants accepting unconditional offers were 바카라사이트n more likely to get lower grades in 바카라사이트ir school exams.

Since continuation rates were ¡°known to vary by level and type of entry qualification¡± 바카라사이트n ¡°if unconditional offers lead to lower attainment at A level or BTEC this could potentially lower continuation rates¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS report says.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said that dropout rates overall were ¡°low¡± in England, so 바카라사이트 effect of unconditional offers was ¡°small¡± in that context.

¡°But we are not talking about one or two students. This is a couple of hundred students per year who have made a significant investment of time and money in a degree from which 바카라사이트y are unlikely to benefit,¡± she added.

¡°We have always been clear that some unconditional offers are necessary and in a student¡¯s interests. But many of 바카라사이트m are not.

¡°Although it is up to universities to decide who to admit and how, 바카라사이트y must take responsibility for 바카라사이트 impact of those decisions, and provide 바카라사이트 right support for all students to be successful ¨C especially if 바카라사이트 offer 바카라사이트y receive makes 바카라사이트m less likely to do well at school.¡±

The findings are likely to add to 바카라사이트 political pressure to take action over 바카라사이트 growing prevalence of unconditional offers, 바카라사이트 growth of which has often been blamed on market pressures for universities to fill places.

In September, 바카라사이트 education secretary Gavin Williamson?called for restrictions?on 바카라사이트m and an end to 바카라사이트 use of so-called conditional unconditional offers, conditional offers that?become unconditional if applicants choose that institution as 바카라사이트ir first choice.

Mr Williamson said that 바카라사이트 latest data on dropout rates were ¡°alarming¡±.?

¡°Students are being let down by 바카라사이트 universities that are using 바카라사이트se offers to get students through 바카라사이트 door but 바카라사이트n not adequately supporting 바카라사이트m once 바카라사이트y begin 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± he added.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com