UK admissions isn’t perfect, but improving it will be difficult

This is an excellent piece that cuts to the core of the problems facing the current system and possible changes. I would make two observations: firstly, bringing the A levels a bit earlier would not be quite so detrimental as previously because the removal of the AS system has freed up more teaching time that was spent on examination preparation. Secondly the incentive to meet 'offer' grades would still remain because different universities would have different entry tariffs and so students aspiring for admission to specific programmes would still need to meet target grades. This would certainly be better than the current trends in making unconditional offers and the increasing unreliability of predicted grades.

A university not so far from my immediate experience is toying with the idea of scrapping semester one exams for first years. To my eyes this could be consonant with a later start for first years, with the result that there is more time available for PQA - if this was taken up across the sector, that is.

Brilliant piece Chris. Wholesale change to the entire education system would be needed, and the WP implications for any significant delay between exams finishing and university starting could be catastrophic, leading to a significant increase in non-enrolments of those from disadvantaged backgrounds. UCU had some good ideas in their report, but with significant flaws, so I welcome more opportunities to review the system as a whole. I feel a redesign of Clearing alongside comprehensive IAG is needed even if PQA is taken off the table, but no one seems to be talking about this - shake off the image of the 'last minute scramble', ringfence a proportionate number of (overall) places for Clearing and rename it!!!

A gap in this piece is the impact on the wellbeing of students. The current system puts students under huge pressure to attain the grades in their offer, and then can lead to very pressured decision making in clearing. Both aspects that contribute to the huge psychological burden on many young people. Being able to apply after results would at least ease some of this.