Independent schools told to broaden university applications

09 Feb 2011

Interesting advice from the head of UCAS to independent schools about the need to broaden the range of universities their students apply for now that admissions have become so competitive. In effect, she told them they must be more realistic in the choice of universities their students aim for.

Speaking at the annual UCAS conference for teachers and advisers, the UCAS Chief Executive, Mary Curnock Cook noted that 50% of independent school applications go to just 15 universities* .

She said this may not be the best strategy for many of these candidates. As she pointed out, the number of applicants from independent schools has not changed much in recent years but those applying from the state sector have grown rapidly. So, as she put it, “to limit yourselves to these 15 universities means you are putting your candidates into an increasingly competitive pool”. Moreover, she added, these 15 universities are under pressure to broaden their intake.

She said independent schools often blamed parents for insisting on this narrow range of 15 universities but she said that was a “weak excuse” and schools should advise their candidates better.

This is because some 3,000 students with 3 grade as at A-level missed out on places last year because so many of them were applying to the same few institutions. Indeed, on courses which require 3 grade As, there were some 12 applicants for every place.

*The 15 universities that are most popular with independent school candidates are Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Imperial, Oxford, Kings College London, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester, Southampton, Warwick, and UCL.