• Coronavirus: 6 key findings from the Sutton Trust's research on university applications

    More than two in five A-level pupils believe the assessment system in place this year will adversely affect their grades, while almost half believe the Covid-19 crisis will hit their chances of getting into their first-choice university. Social mobility charity The Sutton Trust polled pupils studying for their A-levels this year, and found many were…

    10.22 May. 4th, 2020 | News

  • Schools invited to comment on major review of university admissions

    Schools are invited to have their say on how the future of university admissions should look, as the independent regulator for higher education in England launches a major review. The Office for Students has put forward three future options for reform of the system, which includes keeping it the same but with reforms such as…

    0.01 Feb. 27th, 2020 | News

  • Barring pupils with fewer than three Ds 'access to student loans' is ‘retrograde step’

    Leaked proposals that would deny student loans to pupils who achieve fewer than three Ds in their A-levels have been branded a “retrograde step” by school leaders. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that the independent review of higher education, chaired by former investment banker Philip Augar, is expected to recommend proposals to shake-up the university…

    14.38 Dec. 17th, 2018 | News

  • Office for Students wades into unconditional university offers storm

    One of the first orders of business at the new Office for Students will be to investigate the sharp rise in unconditional university offers, and it will “take action” if these are found to adversely affect pupils. Unconditional offers – which promise university places to pupils regardless of their A-level results – allow pupils to…

    5.00 Apr. 28th, 2018 | News

  • Talk to pupils about university when they're 10, Ucas tells schools

    Schools should do more to encourage pupils as young as 12 to think about their post-18 choices, the University and College Admissions Service has said, sparking a call for better careers funding. For its latest report, Through the lens of students, Ucas surveyed more than 16,000 recent university applicants about how their perceptions of higher…

    0.01 Jul. 21st, 2016 | News

  • State school pupils will “struggle” to access top universities after government A-level reform

    State schools will “struggle” to get to grips with university admission changes driven by the government’s A-level reforms – pushing them further behind their private school peers, a forum heard today. Some universities have overhauled their admission process after the government’s new linear A-level reforms. Higher education institutions relied on AS-levels to offer places, however…

    18.01 Jun. 30th, 2016 | News

  • A level pupils face hefty phone bills to call clearing hotlines

    Students needing to call universities in the scramble for places due later this week can expect to face considerable phone charges, an exclusive Schools Week investigation can reveal. Only 14 universities offer Freephone numbers for young people to call during clearing – and one university charges callers at a business rate. A level results will…

    20.00 Aug. 11th, 2015 | Exam results, News

  • How can teachers help during UCAS Clearing?

    A level results day can be traumatic for students who miss their university offer grades – but what can teachers do to help?   It can be devastating if pupils you’ve worked with for years misses the grades they need to take their university place. UCAS Clearing can help students find a place despite their…

    15.22 Aug. 11th, 2015 | Exam results, News