Universities must not sacrifice quality for “inflated intakes” or disappoint students by over-recruiting this year, the student watchdog warns.
It also says that universities are still using unconditional offers that require students to commit to a place in exchange for lower entry grades, despite them being banned.
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said that universities were “likely to have many well-qualified students to choose from” after a surge in applications.
A-level grades will be decided by teachers this year, although they are subject to checks and moderation, and officials have said that generosity will be baked into the system. Head teachers’ leaders have said that “pointy elbowed parents with lawyer friends” will put pressure on teachers.
Dandridge said that students
