Universities that refuse to offer face-to-face learning should NOT charge full £9,250 fees, say Gavin Williamson - as 91% of students are accepted on first-choice of degree while numbers heading for further education rises 5%

Education Secretary said universities should offer discount for remote teaching
He said he expected them to deliver face to face lessons to young people
Nearly half of A-level results today expected to be graded at A* or at an A
Comes after 38.6 per cent of A-level graded A or A* last year by teachers

Published: 09:04 BST, 10 August 2021 | Updated: 10:14 BST, 10 August 2021

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Universities should not be charging students full fees if they are not giving face-to-face teaching, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.

The minister, speaking on the morning of A-Level results being released, he said the Government expected all of them to be moving back to in person lectures and tutorials.

It came as the number of students accepted on degree courses rose by five per cent on last year after more pandemic learning.

And Mr Williamson warned the Office for Students would target and punish universities who were offering sub-standard course.

He said: 'Universities are autonomous institutions. Our guidance is clear, our direction is clear and we do expect all universities, unless there's unprecedented reasons, to be moving back to the situation of actually delivering lessons, lectures, face-to-face.

'I think if universities are not delivering, not delivering what students expect, then actually they shouldn't be charging the full fees.

'I think universities have got to sort of stand up their offer to their own students.

'I think that they have the flexibility and the ability to deliver face-to-face lectures, and expect them to be delivering face-to-face lectures.'

Students at Nottingham High School embrace after getting their A level results this morning

Shalayna Morton reacts to her A-level results at the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham

Students at Archbishop Blanch School in Liverpool, receive their A-Level results this morning

Scenes of joy at Newcastle High School For Girls as pupils receive their A Level results today

'Universities have got to stand up their offers to their students, but we have got the Office for Students, which is targeting universities which have low-quality courses, which aren't doing enough, and we will give the OFS all the power, all the backing, in order to pursue those universities that aren't delivering enough for students that are paying their fees,' he added to Sky News.

A record number of students have been accepted on to UK degree courses this year, Ucas figures show.

In total, 435,430 students have had places confirmed on an undergraduate course in the UK, up 5% on the same point last year, according to data published by the university admissions service.

A record 395,770 students have been accepted on their first choice full-time undergraduate course in the UK, up 8% from 365,500 in 2020.

The figures come on the day that students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results, and students across Scotland are receiving their Highers results.

Mr Williamson seen in Westminster on the morning that A-Level exam results are released.

Students at the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham react to receiving their A-Levels

Williamson fails history

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has claimed that he cannot remember the results of his A-levels.

As hundreds of thousands of students received their A-level grades, Mr Williamson vividly recalled the day 27 years ago when he received his results.

But pressed on what they actually were, he insisted that his memory failed him, although he acknowledged he did not get top marks.

'I didn't get three A*s, it's fair to say,' he said when pressed by LBC's Nick Ferrari.

'I have forgotten, it is so long ago. It is 27 years ago.

'You probably can't remember what was happening last weekend.'

Earlier, however, Mr Williamson recounted how he went to his sixth form college in Scarborough to pick up the envelope with his grades.

He recalled his 'absolute delight' when he saw the results and realised 'all my dreams of doing social science at Bradford University' had been achieved.

'For a lad growing up in Scarborough, Bradford was the most exotic and exciting place in the whole world,' he said.

'It opened up the pathway to those next steps and I was absolutely delighted.'

Overall, 388,230 people from across the UK have had places confirmed. This is an 8% increase on results day last year.

Ucas figures show that 245,330 18-year-olds from across the UK have been accepted on to degree courses, up 17% on the same point last year.

The number of UK 18-year-olds taking up places has risen to 34.1%, up from 30.2% in 2020.

Overall, the total number of students accepted on to nursing courses has increased by 8% to 26,730.

The figures show that 8,560 students from England have been accepted on to medicine and dentistry courses, up 23% from 6,960 on results day 2020.

Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant said: 'Universities have been flexible with their decisions to accommodate as many students as possible onto their first choice of course.

'Over the following days and weeks, we're ready to help anyone without a place find the opportunity that's right for them in clearing.'

She added: 'After around a decade of widening participation progress, albeit slow, it is disappointing to see it stall, though this should be seen in light of record numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds being accepted.'

Overall, the total number of students accepted on to nursing courses has increased by 8% to 26,730.

Meanwhile, the figures show that 8,560 students from England have been accepted onto medicine and dentistry courses, up 23% from 6,960 on results day 2020.

Last week, the Medical Schools Council (MSC), which represents 44 heads of medical schools across the UK, warned that some schools may still struggle to increase the number of students they admit.

Emelia Ambrose hugs a friend after opening her results at Ffynone House School in Swansea

Ffion Young (right) hugs her friend Sara Rafique after opening their A Level results today

Emelia Ambrose, left, is hugged by her friend Mali Jones after opening her A Level results

Nursing students leap after pandemic heroics

The professionalism shown by nurses during the coronavirus pandemic could be behind a leap in the number of students, leading nurses have said.

Ucas figures show the number of students accepted onto nursing courses has increased by 8% from last year, to 26,730.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that the increase is 'encouraging' but warned of significant staff shortages.

It said the newest cohort of undergraduate students will not qualify until 2024 at the earliest.

RCN director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: 'This latest increase in acceptances to nursing courses is encouraging and is no doubt a result of the high profile and professionalism of nursing staff during the pandemic.

'But record numbers of acceptances does not equate to record numbers of nurses entering the workforce, as many of these students won't qualify until 2024 and beyond.

'There are already significant staff shortages in nursing and it is clear acceptance numbers are not keeping pace with vacancies.

'Pressures of the pandemic have also left nursing staff exhausted.

'This not only puts patient care at risk but means students risk not completing their studies and entering the workforce.

'Ministers must reverse the 3% pay deal if we are to discourage many from abandoning the profession, leaving future nurses without the expert teaching they need.'

It came despite the announcement that medicine and dentistry schools will receive funding to expand courses.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), said: 'We are delighted to see that record numbers of applicants have had their places at university confirmed today, after what has been an exceptionally challenging year.

'For those who haven't got the grades they hoped, admissions teams are ready to help everyone with the potential to succeed at university find a place, and will take this year's circumstances into account when making decisions.'

Mr Williamson today defended this year's record high A-level grades after it was revealed nearly half of this morning's results are expected to be A* or A - but the Tory minister admitted there may still not be exams next year with teachers allowed to decide the results again.

The Education Secretary said students 'deserve to be rewarded' after a year of disruption as teachers decided marks for a second year following the cancellation of exams, and said: 'We do expect students to get better grades this year'.

He said: 'This year is a year we can't compare to other years. No other cohort of students have experienced this before, being kept from the classroom not once just twice'.

Mr Williamson has said the Government will consult on a contingency plan 'largely based around' teacher-assessed grades for next year, but with a hope to move back to an examination system.

Despite criticism about grade inflation, Mr Williamson insisted that 'we must support these students in looking to the future' and insisted universities and employers can have 'confidence' in the grades awarded today.

But critics are concerned that middle class parents with 'sharp elbows' might have the upper hand when it comes for appeals, with the 'have nots' suffering disproportionately this year because they are more likely to be marked down and not appeal their results.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said: 'There's likely to be grade inflation. The government has got to make sure the appeals system is fair and easy to engage in and not just accessible to those with barristers for parents.'

Record results for Class of Covid: Two in five A-level pupils got A or A* in teacher-assessed grades today - with FOUR TIMES as many students getting three A*s compared to 2019 (when they last sat exams)

Almost half of all A-level students received A* or A from their teachers today - a new all-time high record - after exams were abandoned for the second year in a row due to Covid-19 with 2022 increasingly likely to be the same.

In total, more than two in five, 44.8 per cent, of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer - up by 6.3 percentage points on last year when 38.5% achieved the top grades, and one in five of all results was an A*, another record.

And according to an analysis by Ofqual, some 6.9 per cent of students in England were awarded three A*s this year - compared with 4.3 per cent in 2020 and 1.6 per cent in 2019, the last time they sat exams, as critics warned the education system had descended into the 'wild west of grading'.

Overall, the proportion of entries awarded the top A* grade this year has surged to 19.1% - the highest proportion since the top grade was first introduced in 2010.

Girls performed better than boys at the top grades, and female maths students overtook boys for the first time in the number of A* grades achieved, figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland show.

It came as the total number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen five per cent on the same point last year, with 435,430 taking up places so far, initial Ucas figures show, but on the most popular courses up to a third of students may be rejected or have to go through clearing due to the number of people getting the required grades.

Students received their A-Level results today after their learning was disrupted by Covid

A student's placard during a protest against Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in 2020

Hundreds of thousands of students have been given grades determined by their schools and sixth-forms, rather than exams, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught during the pandemic.

The figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover A-level entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Highers results are also being released on Tuesday.

This year, teachers in England submitted their decisions on pupils' grades after drawing on a range of evidence, including mock exams, coursework and in-class assessments using questions by exam boards.

According to an analysis by Ofqual, some 6.9% of students in England were awarded three A*s this year - compared with 4.3% in 2020 and 1.6% in 2019.

Last summer, the fiasco around grading led to thousands of A-level students having their results downgraded from school estimates by a controversial algorithm before Ofqual announced a U-turn.

This year, no algorithm was used to moderate grades.

Instead, schools and colleges in England were asked to provide samples of student work to exam boards, as well as evidence used to determine the grades for the students selected, as part of quality assurance (QA) checks.

Random and targeted sample checks of evidence were also carried out after grades were submitted.

Ofqual said that student work from 1,101 centres in England - around one in five schools and colleges - was scrutinised by exam boards.

For 85% of the schools and colleges whose students' work was scrutinised as part of QA checks, the regulator said the subject experts were satisfied that the evidence supported the teacher-assessed grades that were submitted.

'Thanks Miss!': Moment A-level pupil opens her grades then turns to thank the teacher who awarded her them - as students find out results today

A happy A-level student at a West Midlands school thanked her teacher for her two As and A* grades today after opening her results live on television as thousands of anxious teenagers find out their marks.

Students Erin, Drew and Keehan opened their results live on GB News next to Balvinder Sidhu, the channel's West Midlands Reporter in front of their peers and headteacher Nikki Clifton this morning.

Erin was visibly delighted as she found that Kinver High School in Stourbridge had awarded her two A grades and an A* as she laughed, said 'wow, I am very happy' and turned to her teacher to say: 'Thank you'.

Today's results have been set by teachers after exams were cancelled for a second year in a row due to Covid restrictions, with reports last night anticipating nearly half to be given A* and A grades.

Students Erin, Drew and Keehan opened their results live on GB News next to Balvinder Sidhu, the channel's West Midlands Reporter in front of their peers and headteacher Nikki Clifton this morning

Appearing on GB News, Keehan said he got an A*, A and a B, and Drew - who was expecting to receive two Bs - got an A and a B, telling Ms Sidhu: 'I'm really chuffed with it, really really happy'.

Erin and Keehan said they had received the grades required to get to their universities of choice, while Drew said he planned on joining the Royal Air Force and doing an apprenticeship in intelligence.

Last summer, the fiasco around grading led to thousands of A-level students having their results downgraded from school estimates by a controversial algorithm, before Ofqual announced a U-turn.

But this year, no algorithm will be used to moderate teachers' grades.

Headteacher Nikki Clifton said of the three students on GB News: 'They're so brave, but they're a credit to each and every youngster up and down, around the country and I couldn't be happier for them.

'Today's a fabulous day, it's one of my favourite days of the year and I think coming after the two years of disruption, I think I'm really looking forward to having a great day of fun and celebration with the students.'

Asked how she was feeling, Ms Clifton said: 'I'm excited, a little bit nervous as I always am on these days because it is a nervous day and students are nervous. But I'm hopeful that our students will open a set of results that will give (sic) them where they want to go and I hope that is replicated up and down the country.'

She added: 'It has been a very different and rigorous set of processes, and it's very different to any other year. You can't compare this set of year's results with last year, we've got a completely different set of assessment parameters, a whole new policy, a whole different way of working for our students and our staff, and I couldn't be prouder of them.'