Fears about the rising use of unconditional offers by universities are growing after it emerged that some A-level students stopped going to school once they’d secured a guaranteed place at university.

Ministers are looking to clamp down on universities that are irresponsibly handing out places on degree courses to sixth-formers in a bid to put “bums on seats”, regardless of their A-level grades.

A government source told the i that education secretary Damian Hinds held meetings on A-level results day with senior figures from universities watchdog the Office for Students and Ucas.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it expects the regulator “to take appropriate action”.

Recent figures from Ucas show that nearly a quarter of 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were handed at least one guaranteed place on a degree course regardless of their grades.

Almost 68,000 unconditional offers were made this year, compared to less than 3,000 five years ago, the data reveals.

Headteachers have renewed calls for an end to the practice after it emerged this week that some schools had seen their A-level pass rates fall dramatically as a result of a rise in unconditional offers.

Sir John Rowling, chair of Partners in Excellence (Pixl), a network of schools in England and Wales, told Tes that some students were not going to school after they received the offers.

One school in the north of England saw its pass rate (A* to E grades) drop from 74 per cent last year to just 14 per cent this year – with 40 students being handed unconditional offers.

The proportion of students gaining pass grades at A-level nationally dropped to its lowest point in eight years amid concerns that unconditional offers and exam reforms would have an impact.

A DfE spokesperson said: “Giving out unconditional places just to put ‘bums on seats’ not only undermines the credibility of the university system but does students a disservice by distracting them from their studies and swaying their decisions.

“We are concerned about the rise in unconditional offers. The Office for Students is closely monitoring the number being issued and we fully expect it as the regulator to take appropriate action.”

Speaking to The Independent about unconditional offers ahead of results day, Michael Barber, chair of the Office for Students, said: “Some universities seem to be lowering the tariff because they are worried about not recruiting enough students.

“I think the sector needs to think about this very hard.”

A-level results 2018 – in pictures Show all 21 1 /21 A-level results 2018 – in pictures A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students celebrate their A Level results from Ark Academy in Wembley PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Charlie Jenner, Nathan Sharp and Abhinav Boddu receive their A Level results at Norwich School PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students collect their A Level results at Brighton College PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students celebrate their A Level results from Ark Academy in Wembley PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Twins Himmat (left) and Arjun Sohal, who both got 3 A's in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and will both be going to Bath Universirty to study Chemical Engineering, celebrate their A Level results at Peter Symonds College, Winchester PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students celebrate their A Level results from Ark Academy in Wembley PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Alex Cox receiving his A Level results at Mander Portman Woodward College, Edgbaston, Birmingham PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students react as they receive their 'A' level results at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in London Reuters A-level results 2018 – in pictures Moyle Oloko with her results at Brighton College in East Sussex PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Grace El-Mokadem, Maddie Backhouse, Claudia Ballard and Sophie Plumber read their A Level results at Brighton College in East Sussex PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Twins Emily and Molly Goldberg receive their A Level results at Merchant Taylor School in Crosby, Merseyside PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures A student reacts as she receives her 'A' level results at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in London REUTERS A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students react as they receive their 'A' level results at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in London Reuters A-level results 2018 – in pictures Simran Kaur Bahia 20 receiving her A Level results gaining an A*, A and B at Mander Portman Woodward College, Edgbaston PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students pose for a photograph as they receive their A Level results from from Merchant Taylor School in Crosby, Merseyside PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Amanda Georgevic with daughter Phoebe Georgevic 19, who got two A's and one B in her A Level results at Mander Portman Woodward College, Edgbaston PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Students react as they receive their 'A' level results at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in London Reuters A-level results 2018 – in pictures Harriet Selway, 17, left, and Niamh Davies, 17, right, both from Horfield, Bristol, react as they open their A Level results at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures Eleanor Elizabeth Sykes 18 receiving her A Level results gaining 2 A's at Mander Portman Woodward College, Edgbaston PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures A group of students talk after receiving their A Level results at Mander Portman Woodward College PA A-level results 2018 – in pictures A student reacts as she receives her 'A' level results at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in London Reuters

There was intense competition among universities to attract students this year.

Figures released on Thursday by Ucas showed the total number of students accepted onto courses was down 1 per cent compared with the same point in 2017.

However, the proportion of 18-year-olds being accepted on to courses broke records.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent earlier this year, Ucas boss Clare Marchant called for an urgent rethink on universities using unconditional offers across the board.

Universities minister Sam Gyimah has previously branded the rise in unconditional offers as “irresponsible” and has warned that the practice could undermine the credibility of the system.