No-strings university offers make ‘mockery of A-levels’
One in five students were awarded guaranteed places regardless of the A-level grades they were predicted
UNIVERSITIES have been accused of making a “mockery” of A-levels after a huge increase in the number of unconditional offers they hand out.
In the scramble to secure students amid fierce competition from rival institutions, universities are awarding tens of thousands of offers to students regardless of their exam results.
Since 2014, unconditional places handed out to sixth form pupils have surged from 2,985 to 51,615 – up by 1,700 per cent. Of the 259,230 sixth form students who applied to university this year, nearly one in five received an unconditional offer.
The figures show that students predicted Cs were twice as likely to receive an unconditional offer as those with A*s.
While such offers were traditionally given to exceptional candidates, in recent years they have been awarded in much greater numbers. The trend has accelerated since 2014, when the Government announced that caps on places would be lifted in 2015.
Last night academics and MPS accused universities of engaging in a “free for all”, which they feared would drive down standards as universities seek to “maximise income”.
Their concerns are borne out by figures, published by Ucas yesterday as part of their annual end of cycle admissions report, which reveal that 10.6 per cent of students predicted three Cs were given an unconditional offer compared with just 4.6 per cent of those predicted three A*s.
Analysis shows that just one in four students achieved or exceeded their predicted grades, suggesting that thousands of guaranteed places were awarded using unreliable predictions.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph last night, Lord Willetts, the former universities minister, said the trend was “worrying” and that it could lead to students “coasting” through exams and failing to reach their potential. “The growth [in unconditional offers] is dramatic. Universities are competing against one another more than ever, which is a good thing. But it’s bad news if there are students receiving guarantees who are not working hard.”
His comments were echoed by Robert Halfon, chairman of the education committee, who said: “Universities are clearly putting the need to secure funding above standards.”
Prof Alan Smithers, head of education at Buckingham University, said: “I think that this is making a mockery of A-levels.
“It surely can’t be right that so many students are being awarded places without having proved themselves through the examination process.”
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “We are closely monitoring the number of unconditional offers made each year and what, if any, impact they might have on student outcomes.”