How much notice will universities take of this year’s GCSE grades?

[Luandem]

Such disparity on how schools have approached arriving at grades. Will universities bear this in mind?

Having jsut spent a week working on our uni's clearing hot line, we don't give a damn about GCSE grades - it's all about the Level 3 qualifications (A Levels/BTECs). The only thing asked about GCSEs is that we require a 4 or above in English Language and Maths. Some of the STEM courses require a 6 or above at GCSE maths.

None. Only Oxford looked at GCSE grades as a future predictor of A level grades. Everyone else just looks at BTEC or A level grades. As rbe says some universities require a particular grade in a subject and then a pass in English and Maths but that is listed in the "entry requirements"

Sally. That isn’t quite true. Some courses in RG require a B upwards in say Maths and English. My DS’s degree for Notts University did and he went thrrough Clearing in the end. His A* in Maths GCSE I think swung it for him.

We don't actually know what universities will do in the future. Provided that you are applying at the same time as others with TAGs, I don't think it will be an issue.
For contextual offers they do take into account the school(s) attended, so they may extend this process a bit wider. I suspect there would only be a need to do this for very oversubscribed courses though.