Pupils ‘should apply for uni after they get A-level results’

PUPILS would not apply for university until after they received their A-level results in a major shake-up proposed by academic leaders today.

The move would eliminate unconditional offers and end the ‘chaos’ of the current clearing process, according to the University and College Union.

Under its proposals, teenagers would apply to university after finding out their exam results and would not start the first year of their higher education course until November.

The union argues that the reforms would make the system fairer and bring Britain into line with the rest of the world.

It says no other countries use predicted grades to award university places, and seven in ten staff involved in university admissions support the move to postqualification application.

Ucas figures show that last year more than a third of British 18- year- olds applying to university received a form of unconditional offer before completing their school qualifications.

The report also looks at how to improve advice for pupils when it comes to deciding what to study, and calls on the Government to commission an independent review of university admissions.

Matt Waddup, the UCU’s head of policy, said: ‘There is growing support for a shift to a system where pupils apply to university after they have received their results. This report sets out how that could work in practice.

‘Such a move would not only be fairer for pupils, it would bring the UK into line with the rest of the world and eliminate the use of controversial unconditional offers and the chaotic clearing process.

‘The current admissions process based on predicted grades is failing pupils and needs an urgent overhaul. The time has come for the Government to grasp the nettle on this issue and commission an independent review of higher education admissions to take forward the agenda.’