Universities told to prioritise giving places to poorer students
UNIVERSITIES have been told to “prioritise” admitting students from poorer backgrounds this year where competition for places is tight.
Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, has told vice-chancellors all students should be guaranteed their first-choice course if they secure the required grades, although they can be told they must defer until next year.
In a letter, she wrote: “Where possible, try to prioritise those from disadvantaged backgrounds for admissions this year.” It means middle-class children may be forced to take gap years. It comes as universities have been given more funding and the cap on places in medicine has been lifted as senior politicians attempt to deal with the fallout from A-level grade inflation.
To get as many school leavers into university as possible, ministers announced they would not cap the number of students who can study medicine, veterinary science and dentistry.
Crisis talks were held between vicechancellors and Department for Education officials after the Government’s about-turn on A-level results which meant thousands more students met the conditions of university offers.
Students were given teachers’ predicted grades – known as centre assessed grades or CAGS – rather than grades originally calculated by a discredited algorithm.
It meant the proportion of exams awarded top grades increased to a record high for England, with 38.1 per cent on A or A*, up from the 27.6 per cent handed out last week.
The Daily Telegraph disclosed earlier
this week that vice-chancellors told ministers they could take extra students but would need extra funding.
Yesterday Ms Donelan said the Government would increase the teaching grant for any “high cost” subjects such as engineering, archaeology and computer software engineering. But it would also apply to media studies, and design and creative arts.
Ms Donelan added that the cap on numbers that applied to medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences would be suspended this year to allow more students on courses. “This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them,” Ms Donelan said.
According to figures from the university admissions service Ucas, there were 15,000 students who were originally rejected by their first choice university who have now met the conditions of their offer, thanks to teachers’ predicted grades. Of the 160,000 students who had their A-level marks upgraded, 100,000 had already been accepted at their first choice university. The remaining 45,000 still failed to meet their offers despite being upgraded, so will need to enter the Clearing process to find a course.
Universities that make offers are contractually obliged to award a place if students meet the terms of their offer. But many top institutions were already full by the time the Government announced its about-turn on grades, four days after A-level results day.
This week, Durham became the first university to start offering cash incentives to students to defer studies for a year to avoid overcrowding this autumn. The university is offering bursaries and a choice of accommodation to those willing to delay entry until 2021.
Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said many members had increased places this year to cope with the greater influx.
“Our universities have been working hard to be as flexible and compassionate as possible to help students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said. “We firmly believe everyone who has the drive and determination to study at university should have the opportunity do so.”
‘Our universities have been working hard to be as flexible as possible to help students’