He got reasonable GCSEs from a comprehensive school. An 8 in Maths but mostly 5/6s
He left school at 16 and has been employed in an engineering related field since.
Now, when most students have just had their A level results he has been offered a place on a Foundation year by a RG uni. If he passes, he's guaranteed a place on one of their maths or science degree courses. These courses typically ask for between AAA and ABB. There's nothing in his history to suggest he would have got those A levels, even if he'd taken them, which he didn't.
He wrote a good statement which demonstrated his interest in the subjects and has some extra curricular relevant experience. He did an interview where they set him some verbal questions around the subjects.
I'm wondering how someone with ordinary GCSEs and no further education can be expected to compete with AAA after a one year foundation course.
Have they offered not expecting him to pass, ie happy to just take the money? Will they pass him, but not expect him to do well at the degree or do they really expect their foundation year to bring him up to scratch?
Obviously he needs to work very hard, but if he does that....?