[Muanet] Interesting UK item on uni admissions

[Dion Giles]

Because of the key person involved as well as the issues addressed, this 
item found in the UK tabloid The Daily Mail under a characteristically 
misleading heading will especially interest many staff members.  One could 
comment that many of the measures which are to be introduced are 
commonsense procedures which are already standard practice at Murdoch 
University.  Sorry no URL -- I caught sight of it while travelling, brought 
it home and scanned it.

Dion Giles

Daily Mail, Tuesday, April 6, 2004

Universities can lower standards for poor students

By Laura Clark, Education Reporter

UNIVERSITIES will be told today that they can lower A-level requirements 
for 'disadvantaged' students.

The move is one of a number of changes proposed by a Government-backed 
taskforce designed to create a more 'diverse' social mix of pupils.

Under the plans, students from state schools or those whose parents have 
divorced will be given special consideration.

The measures -- outlined in a draft report released today -- will help 
'uncover hidden talent', said taskforce leader Professor Steven Schwartz.

But critics have condemned the reforms as 'social engineering’ which will 
hamper middle-class students.

The Government expects all universities to adapt the new admissions policies.

The report says universities will be allowed to look beyond A-level results 
and decide if applicants were let dawn by poor schooling when making their 
offers of places.

However, they must be considered on an individual basis and not in context 
of a school's average performance.

Admissions tutors will be able to. give special consideration to. pupils 
who. faced personal problems such as divorce or bereavement during their 
school lives.

Application forms will be redrafted to allow candidates to give this 
information and spell out any other 'challenges' they have overcome.

Tutors may also show preference to students from state schools, provided 
this is not done automatically.

'Equal examination grades do not necessarily represent equal potential,' 
the report says. 'Many applicants have responsibilities at home or at work, 
or interrupted schooling, that can affect their educational achievement.

'Recent research shows that, all other things being equal, students from 
state schools and colleges tend to perform better at undergraduate level 
than students from independent schools and colleges.'

Universities have already been set 'benchmark' targets to increase their 
level of under-privileged students.

Those who do not strive to achieve them now face fines up to £50,000 or 
being banned from charging £3,000-a-year top-up fees.

Critics warn that deserving middle-class students could be discriminated 
against in pursuit of the targets. Tory education spokesman Tim Yeo said 
last night: 'What this country needs is better schools for everyone so that 
everyone gets the same opportunities, not a Government obsessed with 
meddling with the independence of universities to the detriment of young 
people.'

But Chris Weavers, education vice-president of the National Union of 
Students, welcomed the proposals.
‘Talk of social engineering can often cloud the admissions debate, but we 
feel it is necessary for universities to consider a wide range of issues 
when it comes to deciding which students to offer places to.'

Higher education minister Alan Johnson said: 'Admissions policy is a matter 
for universities and colleges alone to determine.'

The draft report will now be put out to consultation. A final version is 
due this year.

l.clark at dailymail.co.uk

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Aptitude tests

* Universities should use scholastic aptitude tests (SATs) to spot bright 
students let down by poor schools, the taskforce said.

* The three-hour verbal and maths tests could also be used to choose 
between top students with identical A-level grades.

* Around 50,000 sixth-formers are scheduled to trial the U.S.-style 
assessments this year.

Later applications

* Pupils should be able to apply to university once they have received 
their A-level results in August.

* Universities currently offer places months earlier on the basis of 
teachers' predictions that are wrong half the time.

* An official study found that for the new system to work results would 
have to be given sooner or the university year start later.

Reject letters

* Failed candidates should be given more feedback on why they missed out. 
Professor Steven Schwartz, taskforce leader, said such a move would 
increase trust in the admissions process.

* All university admissions have proper training, he said.

Clear rules

* Universities should clearly spell out how pupils are judged when they 
apply for a place.

* Sixth-formers should be told how much weight is given to A-level results 
and precisely what grades are required.

* Universities should give information on drop-out and post-graduation 
employment rates, as well as success rates for state school pupils and 
ethnic minorities.