MP, Labour’s Shadow Higher
Education Minister, responding to the UCU report on students
applying for university after they receive their college grades,
said:
“An urgent debate needs to be had on post-qualification
admissions. This government has failed to take meaningful action
to improve access and the current university admissions system
too often makes it impossible for disadvantaged pupils to reach
their full potential.
“From unreliable predicted grades that can underestimate the
ability of disadvantaged students, to the skyrocketing number of
unconditional offers, the current system is in need of a serious
rethink if it is to give every student the chance to succeed.
“The next Labour government will build a National Education
Service, scrap tuition fees and bring back maintenance grants to
ensure every student can reach their full potential in a country
for the many, not the few.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- · UCU
said transforming the admissions process would be fairer for
students, bring the UK into line with the rest of the world and
eliminate the use of unconditional offers and the chaotic
clearing process
- · Almost
a quarter of students applying to university received at least
one unconditional offer in 2018, compared to just 1% five years
ago. Yet as few as one in six (16%) A-level grades are
predicted correctly
- · No
other countries use predicted grades to award university places
- · Seven
in ten staff involved in university admissions back the move to
post-qualification application (PQA)
-
· www.ucu.org.uk/media/10038/PQA-report-Jan19/pdf/PQA_report_Jan19.pdf
