Most universities require good A-level grades and the passing of an interview to be admitted.

An A in an A level subject still requires a mark of around 80% which is not achievable without both intellect and hard work. The very brightest students have the opportunity to distinguish themselves by taking the extension AEA papers in many subjects, as well as by taking more than the average 9 GCSE/ 3 A levels.
University applications are also accompanied by personal statements which inform institutions about the student’s extracurricular activities, thus those who have achieved highly in music, sport, drama etc are given credit for this alongside their academic achievements. Students are therefore hardly best described as ‘undifferentiated’.

All universities have entrance requirements, and these of course vary due to the content of the course and the nature of the institution. Students who do not meet these requirements aare not usually accepted onto the course.
The ‘clearing’ system does allow students who missed their grades to find an alternative place at university, but it is usually at a less prestigious institution than the one to which they had originally applied. If students want to achieve their aspirations, they have to work; if they fail to do so at A level then they must accept a place on an inferior course and work even harder to get to where they want to be.

Other nations, particularly the U.S., may well be more supportive of entrepreneurial efforts than the U.K. This has little to do with our educational policy however; in education we attempt to support students in whichever path they choose to follow, be it vocational or academic training.
The real problem is that we fail to celebrate the fact that our education system has become more diverse. University is no longer just for elite academic study, though institutions like Oxford and Cambridge still preserve these traditions for those who are suited to this kind of route. For others, more practical and career-orientated degrees are available to develop skills that will really help them in the world of work. This kind of education is different, but no less valuable. Why can we not celebrate these different kinds of achievement, rather than unfairly branding it as ‘mediocre’?

The job of a teacher or lecturer is not an easy one. They have a duty to communicate information to their students in a way that is helpful to them, not merely to live up to some imagined educational standard. Their ideal should be to inspire students to be the best they can be, so whether they are working with the academic elite or students looking for a more rounded education they should be passionate about getting the best from them.
We have managed to break down many of the barriers of race, gender, financial and social status that once prevented many students from gaining access to education. Educational specialists should relish the opportunity to work with diverse groups of students and use their own skill to inspire them to do great things.

The best students from abroad swamp the top British universities with applications. They know that our top universities are among the best academic institutions in the world. Bright British students are increasingly being lured by U.S. universities, but often this is a response to the extensive scholarships they offer which appeal in the face of top-up fees and the prospect of a huge student loan to pay off. Britain can still compete with the rest of the world in academic achievement and will continue to do so.