With the media reporting that that competition for university places was ‘the fiercest in living memory’, the scramble for the few remaining places continues. The shortage of places was caused by 682,367 candidates applying for 350,000 places. Around 100,000 of these candidates will have now decided not to go to university, to take a gap year or to study abroad. This leaves an estimated 220,000 hopefuls, including mature and foreign students and students who failed to get in last year, chasing the 40,000 places.
Loretto School, in East Lothian, Scotland, seems to be bucking this national trend with a remarkable 95% of its A Level pupils achieving places in their chosen university with a high proportion securing places at the elite ‘Russell Group’ institutions, such as Edinburgh, Durham, Imperial College and Manchester.
Perhaps not unconnected, Loretto School was the first school in Scotland to forge a formal link-up with Edinburgh Napier University.
Loretto pupils have been attending business lectures at Edinburgh Napier University last year as part of a scheme to give them an edge in the fight for a university place.
Loretto pupils have been attending first-year or second-year lectures in business and engineering alongside university students. Pupils have also joined university tutorials, alongside a special project and taster days.
Loretto Headmaster, Peter Hogan commented, “It is a matter of giving our pupils the edge. Excellent A level grades are vital but they are not enough any more. Pupils require professional guidance and up to the minute information throughout the admission process if they are to get the best university places.”
