Use PQA system to end ‘disastrous’ unconditional offers

Moving to a post-qualification admissions system would help to end the “detrimental impact” university admissions have on sixth-form pupils and teachers, a think tank has claimed.

According to a report by the centre-right Policy Exchange group, greater use of unconditional offers, contextual offers for disadvantaged students and a boom in students accepted through clearing has led to university admissions being perceived as “confusing and opaque” by sixth-form students and teachers.

The report is written by Spiked! columnist and former academic Joanna Williams, who is also head of education and culture at Policy Exchange.