I have today written to David Willetts, in the hope that he will put a stop to what is a serious A level scandal. I have applied for an adjournment debate on the subject and hope that if successfully called, when he responds, he will be able to provide the re assurances that a practice which has been in operation for many years will have seen its last day.

In order to explain the scandal in detail, I shall use the schools in my own county of Bedfordshire to explain how it works. However, this situation apparently occurs every year, across the country in all counties.

At 8am on Thursday morning last, the day of A level results, Bedford Modern Independent School in Bedford, a truly excellent school, opened it’s doors at 8am in order to hand out the A level results to students.

I think we all know what a rough year it was this year for A level students. Many did not get the University or course of their choice. There was a mad scramble for clearing however, clearing also only had a limited number of places on offer and they were allocated on a first come first come first served basis.

At 8.40am the head of UCAS was quoted on the radio stating that hundreds of children had already been through clearing. Obviously attempting to secure the few places there were. 

Why is this scandal?

Because the state schools didn’t open their doors to hand out results until 9.30am.

Which meant that across the country, what places were available in clearing, may have gone to children from the independent sector, not the state.

Now, I have nothing against the independent sector. They have ably demonstrated their commitment to their pupils and used what they had to their advantage. Their teachers got out of bed and into school at 7am and were ready and waiting with advice and help and instant solutions to the problems the children faced. And for the cynics, no more cheques arrive. They don’t really even have an obligation on this day other than to hand out the results.

Those pupils who needed to went straight to computers in the school and were in clearing by 8.30. An hour before the state school teachers in Bedfordshire had even arrived at the school.

At one of the upper schools in Mid Bedfordshire, children were queuing for their results at 9.20 and told they couldn’t have them until 9.30.

I have laid down Parliamentary questions requesting detailed information re clearing. I want to know how many children from the independent sector had entered clearing v state in fifteen minute breakdowns during the morning from 8am onwards.

I have had it confirmed by individual Universities that places are offered on a first come first served basis.

I also want to know how many independent school children were offered places from 8am onwards v state.

It has to stop. All children should be given their results at exactly the same time, regardless of where they are educated.

This will either mean the teachers in the state sector have to get into school earlier to coincide with the time clearing opens, or independent schools will have to twiddle their thumbs and wait for the state school teacher to arrive. Either or, it has to stop.