UCAS data on… well, something
David Kernohan is Deputy Editor of Wonkhe
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The question it has chosen to answer is a curious one – how many students who have seen their grades increase as a result of the UK-wide move to Centre Assessed Grades (CAG) have secured a place in their firm or insurance provider, or provider of the same or greater tariff band as their firm provider.
| Applicant country of domicile | Qualification type where grade increased | Main scheme applicants | Main scheme applicants placed at firm provider, insurance provider, or provider of the same or greater tariff band as firm provider | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Alevel | 137380 | 121630 | 88% |
| England | Alevel + BTEC | 2540 | 2340 | 92% |
| England | BTEC | 8930 | 8390 | 94% |
| England | SQA | 10 | 10 | |
| Northern Ireland | Alevel | 6720 | 6080 | 90% |
| Northern Ireland | Alevel + BTEC | 60 | 50 | 83% |
| Northern Ireland | BTEC | 180 | 170 | 94% |
| Scotland | Alevel | 250 | 220 | 88% |
| Scotland | Alevel + SQA | 10 | 10 | |
| Scotland | SQA | 10570 | 9640 | 91% |
| Wales | Alevel | 7140 | 6690 | 94% |
| Wales | Alevel + BTEC | 20 | 20 | |
| Wales | BTEC | 90 | 90 |
I say the question is curious because we know that concerns have been about missing out on specific courses rather than providers.
What the data appears to show is a satisfaction that applicants have achieved a place at the kind of provider the initially chose – with the assumption that tariff bands are a good proxy for this at an institutional level. I would argue that they are not – high tariff courses can and do exist in low tariff providers, casting serious doubt on the notion of a high or low tariff university.
We should also be aware that this is JCQ+22, so correct as of last Friday.
Here’s the press release.