Commenting on the publication of the UCAS report ‘Reimagining UK
Admissions’, outlining the UCAS position on admissions reform,
Kevin Gilmartin, Post 16 Specialist at the Association of School
and College Leaders, said:
“Predicted grades have been a thorny issue for many years and we
welcome the fresh thinking on the subject.
“We are gauging opinion among our members about the proposals,
set out in a current government consultation, but there is early
support for the suggestion to replace the current system of
university offers based on predicted grades with a model such as
that proposed by UCAS, whereby offers would be made after A-level
results day on the basis of actual grades.
“There are potential benefits to this approach, particularly for
disadvantaged students who often achieve better results than
they’d expected. However, this could necessitate major changes to
the process and timing of applying to and starting university,
and we need to be confident that this disruption would achieve
its desired aim before going ahead.
“Schools and colleges already play a key role at the point where
students receive their results in terms of offering support and
guidance to those who have and have not attained the grades they
required and guiding those who need it through the clearing
system. However the extent of support needed from school and
college staff may be even greater than at present, in a model
such as the one backed by UCAS, and this needs further
exploration.
“Whatever approach is ultimately adopted, it is clear that the
expertise and knowledge offered by teachers will be even more
important for students at the point where they make a key
decision about moving into higher education.”
