Universities urged to reform applications

by Polly Curtis, education correspondent

The government's university admissions tsar today urged universities to back plans to introduce a post-qualification application system amid growing opposition to proposals for the biggest overhaul of university applications in 50 years.

Steven Schwartz, the vice-chancellor of Brunel University who conducted a review of admissions for the government last year, urged his colleagues in other institutions to back the proposals, outlined today, to scrap applications made on predicted grades, improve information about courses and move to a post-qualification application system (PQA).

Earlier today, the higher education minister, Bill Rammell, outlined reforms that could set universities holding back some places at university until after A-level results are published, The move would give pupils who had been predicted lower grades than they actually achieved – disproportionately those in lower-performing schools a chance to apply for the most competitive courses.

But this afternoon Oxford University said it would not support the plan. A spokeswoman said: "We want to see all the applications and we want to allocate all the places in one go, otherwise we don't think we can guarantee that we have chosen the best people."

Drummond Bone, the president of the vice-chancellors organisation Universities UK, warned against creating a system which did not give universities enough time to decide. Les Ebdon, the vice-chancellor of Luton university warned that the real problem was students who failed to take up a place at all, who were more likely to be put off by lack of cash than the admissions system.

Prof Schwartz told Education Guardian.co.uk: "Outside of university admission staff virtually everyone thinks it [PQA] should happen, It seems more sensible to have entrance based on actual marks than predicted ones. From the school headmasters, to students and people who work in industry, everyone thinks it's sensible. Universities should see that.

"It's a step in the right direction, The current clearing system combines instant decision-making with a first come first serve system. We need a better system than that."

But he added that in order to implement a PQA system, universities and schools would have to compromise by moving their term dates. This was essential to make enough space during the summer for exam boards to mark exams and return the results, and for universities and students to make their decisions.

"It would be worth it to have a system that was robust and reliable," he said.

There is deep-seated opposition among universities to shift term dates out of line with the rest of Europe, as it could jeopardize the lucrative take up of places by overseas students who may opt to stick to traditional dates.

Schools would be hard-pressed to shorten their teaching time and bring forward exams, leaving all eyes focused on the exam boards to shorten their marking time by adopting online marking methods.

Shadow higher education minister Stephen O'Brien said introducing PQA was "a sensible step".

"However, this must not become a tool for social engineering. The consultation must be genuine and not prejudice against those from middle class backgrounds, Access to universities must be based on merit and assessment, not background – rich or poor,"

Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrats education spokesman, said: "An admissions system based on predicted grades is inefficient and unreliable.

"Allowing students to apply to universities with their actual grades is fairer and will permit young people who might not have considered university to apply with confidence,"

From The Guardian

7.b Explain the following concepts from the text.

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