pressure to change the university start date

Samantha Price, head of Benenden School in Kent says the exam system needs to be overhauled. We happen to agree with her.

Reducing the emotional and mental burden of the holy grail of results in England schools. According to the new leader of the Girls’ School Association.

Reforms recommended by Price include on how and when exam candidates are examined.

Such as a possible delay to the start of degree courses until January rather than autumn, to allow exam candidates more time to make course considerations and applications. Increase the chance o work experience and learn skills.

“I don’t think our current assessment system is any longer fit for purpose and I don’t think our university application system is fit for purpose. I don’t think it’s fair across the sectors and I also don’t think it caters for young people’s mental health,” Price said, in her first comments since taking the role as president of the GSA, which represents girls’ schools.

Price called for a proper look at the high-stakes exams such as GCSEs and A-levels were appropriate for 16- and 18-year-olds with this cliff edge form.

We believe that exams have their place. Just they need to be deployed in a sympathetic manner. Universities need to be a lot more flexible at course entry dates.

The UK Government is preparing to publish of a consultation on post-qualification university admissions.

Likely findings:

1) recommend major timing and structure of applications allowing for decision-making after A-level exams results have been published.

“For school students with their sights on a traditional university degree course, we need to overhaul the admissions system to embrace either post-qualification offers or applications. This would be a much fairer system for all young people and would reduce the pressure on them in their final year of school,” Price said.