Universities | Schools Week

Universities told to advertise drop-out rates

Government says plans will give students ‘genuine choice’ about where to study

Ministers scrap plans for post-qualification admissions

DfE says support for shake-up of university admissions was ‘not strong enough’

Improve outreach work if you want to charge higher fees, universities told

John Blake appointed to help regulator push institutions to improve access and partnership plans

DfE to consult on post-qualification admissions as Williamson signals ‘radical change’

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has signalled plans to “radically change” the university admissions system which is “letting down” the brightest pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Williamson said that he will review a post-qualification university admissions (PQA) system, whereby students in England would receive university offers once they have obtained their final grades. The move comes […]

Universities back post-qualification admissions but shoot down move to January start

A major review into university admissions is calling for places to be offered after students have been awarded grades – but it shot down proposals to shift start dates back to January. Universities UK (UUK), the university umbrella body, suggests switching to a post-qualifications admission model from 2023, subject to full consultation, as part of […]

Universities agree to honour first choice offers for pupils who hit grades after U-turn

Universities have agreed to honour all-first choice offers for thousands of students rejected last week who have now had their results upgraded. The government’s Higher Education Taskforce, including the Russell Group of universities and representative body Universities UK, has agreed the commitment as the government lifts the cap on places for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science […]

Hold places for appealing A-level students, minister tells universities

Universities should hold places for pupils who choose to appeal against their A-level grades, the government has said. In a further sign the government is gearing up for an outcry over standardised grades similar to that seen in Scotland last week, universities minister Michelle Donelan has written to university vice-chancellors to urge them to be […]

DfE releases guide to partnerships with universities and private schools

The Department for Education has published guidance and case studies aimed at encouraging more partnerships between state schools, universities and the independent school sector. The documents include a guide to setting up partnerships and how to write a “memorandum of understanding” outlining the terms of a common plan of action. They also feature examples of […]

How can universities best support their local schools?

An ambitious attempt to improve teachers and teaching in South Yorkshire is focusing on a collaborative approach to recruitment, development and retention, says Sam Twiselton With the government so caught up in Brexit that Labour is getting away with stealing the best schools policies from old Tory green papers, it seems like an opportune time […]