EDUCATION workers insist today that government demands for a review of university admissions would be a “perfect opportunity” for constructive change in unconditional offers.

The University and College Union (UCU) has said that the calls from Education Secretary Damian Hinds for a review of university admissions could signal a chance for a “radical overhaul” of how people are accepted into higher-education institutions.

The call from Mr Hinds comes as criticism grows over the use of unconditional offers in the Ucas application system.

Figures from the applications body from the previous academic year show that nearly one in four 18-year-olds from England, Wales and the six counties received an unconditional offer from a university.

This means that they can accept a place at university without meeting any particular A-level grades.

In order to avoid a fall in quality, the UCU says that it prefers a system where students apply to university after their results are received, which is a common method in most other European countries.

UCU acting general secretary Paul Cottrell said: “We are pleased the minister is looking seriously at the use and abuse of unconditional offers.

“Unconditional offers put too much pressure on young people to make a snap decision about their future and are symptomatic of a broken admissions system where offers are made using predicted grades rather than actual results.

“Instead of tinkering around the edges, this review is the perfect opportunity for an overhaul of the system so university offers are based on actual achievements instead on guesswork.”