Uni leader warns next year's A-level assessment may need to be reviewed as top grades awarded

Some courses have already closed to clearing as students scramble for places in a year of record A-level results.

Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle said his university’s clearing hotlines had been busy all day on Tuesday “with hundreds, maybe thousands” of calls. Some Swansea courses have closed to clearing although he couldn’t say which ones.

There are places at Swansea still available but a high proportion of applicants met their offers and clearing, which usually lasts several days, might close earlier this year, he warned.

Read more: A levels 2021: Record rate of A*s and As awarded in Wales as top grades almost double from before Covid

Applications to Swansea have risen from home students but there are spaces for all those who have met their offers, Prof Boyle said.

Extra lectures and help will be given to students starting in September who need it after learning affected by the pandemic, he said.

With the top grades awarded soaring this year some universities in England have said they might have to start introducing more of their own entrance exams.

Students at Swansea University's Bay Campus (Swansea University)

Prof Boyle said his university always takes account of applicants’ personal statements and not just their raw grades when making offers. But he added that schools and colleges may have to look at their assessment process for next year and beyond.

“We are putting on extra lectures and pre-sessional work for students who need extra work. We are conscious that some schools discarded elements of the syllabus.

“We will all reflect on the Covid year. I would imagine schools will be looking at how they have managed the system. They may decide they want to change assessment. This is going to be a continuous effect for a couple of years.

“Clearing is slightly busier than usual this year. We have planned a little bit of growth but not significant growth.

“The last thing we want is for students to do a course that is too difficult.”

Swansea is expecting to accept around 4,000 students this year with applications up from home students but down from the EU. International applications from China are down but numbers are up from India and Nigeria.

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