Universities will be forced to reveal their unofficial “blacklists” of “banned” A-level subjects that are considered to harm students’ chances of being accepted on top courses.
David Willetts, the universities minister, said institutions will have to publish the subjects that are viewed as substandard, as well as the ones taken by their successful applicants for every course in the UK.
He claimed the move would improve social mobility by allowing students at comprehensive schools to choose the A-levels that give them the best chance of being accepted to the university of their choice.
Mr Willetts told The Sunday Times: “Young people need to know if there are banned subjects. It is far better this information is out there rather than secret.”
Currently, only a handful of universities, including Sheffield and Trinity College, Cambridge, explicitly warn potential students about certain “soft” subjects that should be given a wide berth.
Top independent and grammar schools often know from experience what subjects are most favoured – putting thousands of pupils at a disadvantage.
Mr Willetts added: “Although in well-informed families and some of the more academic schools this is very well understood and made available, it is not the case for everyone. Prospective students who can expect to be paying (higher tuition) fees are entitled to this information. I think it is particularly important to improve social mobility and access to university.”
The MP, who said the requirement could come in new higher education legislation likely in 2012, criticised “the mish-mashed problem of very bad advice on GCSEs and A-levels, and incentives in the old system for schools to pile up grades to maximise points without any regard to the combination of subjects”.
Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.