(Title Image: via Senedd TV)

In a letter to Welsh universities, the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), has cautioned against the use of unconditional offers following the cancellation of 2020’s A-Level exams.

The Minister reassures universities that A-Level students “would be awarded a fair grade”.

“I do not believe, therefore, that there is any good reason for the usual admissions cycle to be disrupted or for universities to begin making their offers unconditional. This would not be in the best interests of students or higher education institutions. I appreciate that the government in England has to deal with the consequences of moving away from AS levels and the impact this has on generating fair grades, but this is best resolved by the four governments and regulators working together to keep, as far as possible, to the usual admission cycle.”

– Education Minister, Kirsty Williams

The Minister also said that no final year university students should be “penalised unfairly” for studying during the pandemic. She also reassured students that their Term 3 tuition fee and maintenance payments would be made as usual though the Student Loan Company.