A-levels: Three more Oxford University colleges to honour offers

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Three more Oxford colleges have said they will honour all the places offered to UK students, irrespective of their A-level results.

There has been anger since Thursday when 40% of awarded A-level grades were lower than teachers’ predictions.

Jesus College, New College and St Edmund Hall will admit all students given offers earlier this year.

Oxford University said colleges had offered places to more than 300 students who missed their grades.

Worcester College and Wadham College said earlier they were giving places to all their UK offer-holders.

In a statement, St Edmund Hall said: “To alleviate the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the appeals process, and uphold our strong strategic commitment to access, equality and diversity in our admissions process, the college has taken the decision to make offers unconditional for all applicants whose places were not originally confirmed.”

New College tweeted: “New College can confirm we have concluded the review of our outstanding offers, and is pleased to announce that all undergraduate offers made in 2019/20 have been confirmed.”

Jesus College said it has “confirmed places for all our 2020 offer-holders, for either this year or next”.

An Oxford University spokesman said the number of students admitted without meeting entry requirements was “far more than in previous years”, adding: “The overwhelming majority of these are UK state school candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“As a result our UK state school intake this year currently stands at 67.8% – an increase of 5.7% compared to 2019.”

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Data from Ofqual shows independent schools saw an increase of 4.7% in the number of students securing A or A* grades from 2019, compared with 2% for state schools.

The exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results.

In England, 36% of entries had a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades after exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.