3,500 straight A students ‘to miss university’

The telegraph reports

David Willetts, the Higher Education Minister, said “exceptional” candidates could be rejected after failing to name a “less competitive university” as a back-up choice on their application form.

Just days before the publication of A-level results, he said students needed better advice to help them navigate the university admissions system.

The warning came after Mr Willetts suggested that many pupils were being given poor guidance by state schools – leaving some to pick sixth-form subjects that were not appropriate for chosen degrees.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their A-level results on Thursday.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Willetts admitted that the number of students missing out on degree places was likely to be higher than last year’s record total. One vice-chancellor said the figure would be as high as 200,000.

Under the present system, students can name up to five courses on application forms.

But Mr Willetts suggested that some bright students failed to name a less sought-after university as a back-up choice – meaning they can miss out altogether if they fail to get into an elite institution.

In 2009, around 38,500 candidates scored three As in their A-levels, but only 35,000 went on to gain university places, Mr Willetts said.

He added: “So there were 3,500 people with exceptionally good performance at A-level who didn’t get a place.

“That may have been because they didn’t have what’s called an insurance place – a place at a rather less competitive university. That’s their decision. They can choose how they handle those applications.