19th August 2011 10:50
By Blue Tutors
Over the last year, rows about tuition fees, the marginalisation of students from poorer backgrounds, and universities' fears over implementing new policies have created a turbulent environment in the world of higher education. Yesterday, the A’ level results were released, results which will bring many students into the thick of the battles in higher education.
Those who fail to get the grades they require this year could face paying tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year from next September. 27% of students obtained A or A* grades, indicating that there will be fierce competition for places at universities offering discounts and scholarships for high flying students.
For students, teachers and admissions tutors results day is one of the most stressful days of the year. Those who missed their grades face an agonising wait to see if they will still be offered a place at university, whilst teachers and admissions tutors work frantically to process and disseminate the relevant information. Yesterday this process was not helped by the fact the UCAS website crashed as a result of receiving 4 times the website traffic that they are used to.
This happened, no doubt, because many more students are applying to university this year in a bid to avoid increased fees. However, surely the increased use of the website could have been predicted, given that it is already well known that applications have risen sharply. Perhaps the admissions service could have done more for students who are already getting an extremely rough deal right now.