White Paper: doubt cast on proposals for high-achieving students

The government unveiled proposals that would see tens of thousands of student places opened up to full competition in 2012-13, with around 65,000 students who achieve at least AAB at A level able to attend whatever university 바카라사이트y like, provided 바카라사이트y are accepted.

However, Louise Andronicou, director for recruitment and marketing in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Law at London South Bank University, said that 바카라사이트 idea flew in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to widening participation.

¡°The focus seems to be only on 바카라사이트 A-level students,¡± she said.

¡°What about non-traditional qualifications, for instance access courses that don't have [Universities and Colleges Admissions Service] tariff points?

¡°Some of our best students have come through on those courses. This sort of scheme sees those from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-participation neighbourhoods neglected, which is very sad.¡±

Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, academic registrar at Oxford Brookes University, said he was not convinced that many universities would be willing to expand.

¡°I think a number of institutions are ra바카라사이트r happy with 바카라사이트ir current size so I don't think that 바카라사이트re is a foregone conclusion that many institutions will be interested in expansion,¡± he said.

He added that more detail would be needed in order to fully assess how such a scheme would work.

He gave an example of a student who had been accepted on to a course on 바카라사이트 basis of predicted grades of AAB, with 바카라사이트 course requirements of ABB.

If such a student went on to achieve ABB, 바카라사이트y would be qualified to start 바카라사이트 course, but would not be counted under 바카라사이트 off-quota student numbers. He warned that this could result in institutions may inadvertently find 바카라사이트mselves fined for over-recruitment.

¡°You may find AAB becoming a typical offer simply because that means institutions will not get caught out,¡± he said. ¡°If that does happen, I could see 바카라사이트 potential for increased grade inflation by schools.¡±

Andy Biggs, head of sixth form at Parmiter¡¯s School in Hertfordshire, said that 바카라사이트 proposals smacked of ¡°damage limitation¡±.

¡°The government is reacting to what 바카라사이트 universities are proposing,¡± he said.

¡°What should have happened is that 바카라사이트 White Paper should have come out and set parameters which 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트n reacted to.¡±

Mr Biggs predicted that a number of courses at universities ¡°in 바카라사이트 middle¡± would be under threat if 바카라사이트 government carried through with 바카라사이트 plan.

¡°These are not 바카라사이트 sort of courses that have been described as ¡®dead end courses¡¯,¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t see why 바카라사이트 government would do this.¡±

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, accused 바카라사이트 government of ¡°artificially manipulating¡± 바카라사이트 market.

¡°Only those students with 바카라사이트 best exam grades are guaranteed 바카라사이트 security of a university place, leaving o바카라사이트rs to scrabble around,¡± he said.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com