York Guides

James Reed
Education Correspondent (Yorkshire Post)

UNIVERSITIES in Yorkshire are bracing themselves for one of their busiest Augusts ever amid predictions of record A-level results.

The number of pupils gaining top grades is likely to squeeze the room for manoeuvre universities have had in the past on offers made earlier in the year, leaving more pupils who have narrowly missed their grades disappointed.
As a result, universities are preparing for more pupils to be scrambling for places through the clearing system. A further group of pupils who did not apply in January may also choose to go through clearing if they get better than expected results.
Changes to the fees students have to pay next year could also complicate the picture. Pupils who in other years might have chosen to resit their A-levels and go to university in 2006 may choose this year to go through clearing to avoid the new fees.
But other pupils may actually benefit from waiting until next year anyway because of the bursaries universities will be offering to people from poorer backgrounds.
Universities nationwide have already seen an eight per cent rise in applications this year although individual institutions have seen far bigger rises, like Bradford University with 29 per cent.
Pauline Aldous, academic registrar at York St John College, said: "We are told that more students than ever have achieved record A-level grades so it may be possible that there will be greater clearing activity.
"Each year, some A-level students who have not made an early application are encouraged to apply through clearing because they have achieved more than they expected in their examinations. If there is pressure in the system with more students achieving good grades some may be disappointed not to get into their first choice institution even with a narrow miss on the offer grades.
"This year there is a new factor in the situation. Applicants will be considering the personal implications of the revised student financial arrangements which will apply from 2006. It is possible that a number will be keener to commence their studies in 2005 under the current system." Huddersfield University said it recruited around 12.5 per cent of students through clearing.