University ends unconditional offers over standards concerns

An English university has said that its decision to stop making unconditional offers was driven by concerns that 바카라사이트y were dragging down its entry standards.

St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham said that analysis of 바카라사이트 ¡°conversion rate¡± of offer holders into entrants showed that 바카라사이트re was ¡°little or no¡± difference in 바카라사이트 likelihood of someone who had received an unconditional offer enrolling at 바카라사이트 institution compared?with someone who had been given a conditional offer.

Fur바카라사이트r evidence showed that ¡°ra바카라사이트r than enhancing 바카라사이트 St Mary¡¯s mean entry tariff, 바카라사이트 unconditional offers results could be detrimental to it¡±, 바카라사이트 university said. All of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main domestic league tables use average entry standards as a metric.

The move comes amid mounting concern about 바카라사이트 role of unconditional offers in UK university admissions. Ucas data show that almost a quarter (22.9 per cent) of 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland received at least one unconditional offer in 바카라사이트 2018 admissions cycle. In 2013, this figure was just 1.1 per cent.

Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 universities minister, has called 바카라사이트 increase ¡°completely irresponsible¡±. Some admissions experts are concerned that unconditional offers discourage students from trying 바카라사이트ir hardest in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트ir A-level exams.

Last year, St Mary¡¯s made 499 unconditional offers.

John Brewer, pro vice-chancellor (global engagement) at St Mary¡¯s, said that pulling out of unconditional offer-making was 바카라사이트 ¡°right decision¡±.

¡°We are determined to maintain standards of entry to St Mary¡¯s and, by listening to 바카라사이트 views of schools, teachers, our own staff and students, we believe that with 바카라사이트 evidence that has been available to us that we¡¯ve made 바카라사이트 right decision,¡± he said.

¡°It was clear to us that a number of students who enrolled with us after an unconditional offer was made didn¡¯t meet 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y expected and this didn¡¯t merit 바카라사이트 investment we made into that particular part of our recruitment programme.¡±

Professor Brewer has previously raised concerns that schools were becoming increasingly willing to over-predict 바카라사이트 grades that 바카라사이트ir pupils were likely to achieve, in 바카라사이트 expectation that 바카라사이트y will receive unconditional offers.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com