MANCHESTER schools have welcomed plans for students to apply for university places based on their real A-Level results rather than predicted grades.

Ministers plan to re-write admissions rules so that all students will eventually apply to university after they have received their A-Level results.

It was argued the proposed change, which could be in place by 2012, would be fairer for students and more efficient for universities. In the meantime, students' first-year AS results should be considered.

David Johnson, head at Failsworth High and Sports College, where about half of students eventually go on to college or university, said: "Students currently apply to university on the basis of their GCSE results but sometimes circumstances can change between then and their A-Levels. There are so many examples where children have been refused entry but then go on to do even better than the entry qualification."

But universities said that accepting students after they receive their exam results - due this year on August 17 - would not give enough time to process applicants.

Delyth Chambers, head of admissions at the University of Manchester, said: "There would have to be changes to when students do their exams and changes to the start of the higher education year."

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