More than 10,000 school leavers who are predicted three Bs in their A-levels this summer have not got a firm offer at any university, as competition for places at top institutions places increases.
Experts say that in recent years school leavers were entering a “buyer’s market” in university places, with applicants standing a good chance of talking their way into a good university even if they missed a grade. But this year, with elite universities fearful of over-recruiting after being forced to take more students than they wanted during the pandemic, and a demographic surge in the number of 18-year-olds, competition has been fierce.
Andrew Hargreaves, founder of Data HE, a consultancy that advises universities on admissions, and a former director at admissions service Ucas, said: “Ucas hasn’t released any official data yet, but I have been told that over 10,000 applicants with predicted grades of BBB are not holding a firm offer at any university. That is really shocking.” Guardian.
Blogger: when I first became a Spanish teacher in 1975, getting 'A' Level top grades was so difficult - I didn't achieve one in 13 years. (My classes were happily very small in numbers and so - this meant zero top grades in fewer than 40 pupils over that timespan.)
In a state school, it appeared that independent schools always had more school hours of teaching time available to ensure that their youngsters would nick the top grades.
In around 1988, something dramatic happened. I began to gain 50% 'A' grades in all classes put into the exams. So. Had I gone from 'competent to brilliant' - or had the top grades become easier to achieve?
The answer was blindingly obvious.
That young people were coming into 'A' Level classes from the dumbed down GCSE was all too evident.
Pupils who did not deserve top 'A level' grades were now getting them and were believing that they were considerably better than they actually were.
In my days as a Sixth Former, 3 x Bs was perfectly valid for University entry.
I stopped teaching 'A level' in 2002 but continued teaching GCSE for a further five years.
Children who would have failed the old 'O level' up to 1988 were now getting 'B' grades at GCSE - and some went onto study 'A levels!' The knock on effect into 'A level' was inevitable. Low grade, loser candidates were passing the exam which was the gold standard on which our education system had been built.
In my day, the 'A level' plodders had gained 'D' Grades.
Today, the plodders get 'B's. Can you see why I am so appalled by what The Guardian is suggesting.
Expected standards have plummeted and yet, according to the leftist press - students must be rewarded if they have the equivalent of 3 x Ds back in the 70s.
Naturally, this is accompanied with falling levels of expectation in university departments and First Class Honours are being bashed out to people who really would have struggled to achieve a 2:2 back in the day.
Standards are pathetically low; students have little capacity for logical thought; many are second - or even third - rate.
When I was a comprehensive school teacher - it was easy to see that I was pretty much part of the last generation of teachers with high expectations. The older generation possessed a level of intellect which was all but dead and gone by the time I quit in 2002.
The few honest leftists in this failing educational model will admit this truth.
The remainder either fool themselves - or try to cover up. Those covering up have won the day!
