UK: Oxford delays on A* grade offers

Oxford University says it will not make conditional offers for places based on the new A* grade at A-level when it is first awarded in 2010, reports the BBC. The higher grade is intended to identify the most able students and to help universities choose from among many candidates with A grades. But there are concerns it will become dominated by independent schools, hitting efforts to widen participation.

Oxford says it wants to see how such A* grades are distributed. Pupils starting A-level courses this autumn will be the first to be considered for the upper grade of A*, which will be awarded for marks of 90% and above. It is expected that only about 3,000 pupils will get A* grades in three subjects - compared with about 26,000 currently achieving three A grades.

But there have been concerns from universities that this group of high flyers receiving A* will be disproportionately drawn from independent schools - and that if these grades are used for admissions that it will mean fewer state students in top universities.

Meanwhile, The Mail reports that several prestigious institutions are reluctant to embrace the super-grade because they fear it will harm efforts to widen the social mix of students.
Full report on the BBC site
Full report on The Mail site