§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the policy of university admission authorities towards AS levels; and how many universities he expects to use AS levels as predictors of likely A level performance. [131692]
§ Mr. WicksUniversities are responsible for their own admissions policies. Initial indications are that they will consider the new AS level qualifications as early predictors of A level performance and make conditional offers that include, alongside A levels, AS qualifications as evidence of breadth. The position will be clearer once the HE prospectuses are published early in 2001. A guidance note for HEIs on changes to the post-16 curriculum in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was published by UCAS in June 2000 in conjunction with the Department and the regulatory authorities. Copies will be placed in the Libraries.