Headteacher's Reports for Uni

[calvi]

Can anyone tell me exactly what this contains and how the information is obtained? Is it a compilation from school reports going back to Year 7 - gulp?

If he has accepted a deferred place he can only apply again if he gives up his place. You can not hold a place and apply for others.

I think the '5 at A*' thing might have been a way of trying to indicate that a high academic ability is needed, rather than a requirement?
If the circumstances were clearly stated, I can't see people being that fussed about his GCSEs. (Law may be different, but in our Dept, we wouldn't be.) We've taken people with A-levels that were less than their stated offer given similar circumstances.

Cambridge tries to interview almost everyone, so it'll be down to the interview to make the difference.

p.s. I'd agree that he might be better off applying the next year post A-levels - I did this myself, and didn't notice any disadvantages.

"Cambridge tries to interview almost everyone, so it'll be down to the interview to make the difference."

I totslly agree. In fact I would suggest that he brings up the topic of his GCSEs at interview and explains why he should be considered despite his lack of A*. It is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his analytic and advocacy skills.
A classic case of turning a weakness into a strength!

aaagghh, just when I think I know what is best regarding applying this year or next someone has a different opinion and I start changing my mind again. Will have to leave him to get on with it I think. The thought of going through all this with DC2, 3 and 4 fills me with dread.

Senua, really good idea about HIM actually raising the lack of A*s.

Thats a good point Senua. A friends daughter was worried about only having dual science at GCSE (applying to Oxford for Biology) even though at a school where triple was done. At the interview when the tutor was looking at her application she brought this up herself and said that she regretted it now, blah blah blah. He actually didn't seem bothered by it at all. She got in.

One of my ex students is now reading Law at Oxford. He did not have straight As / A*s at GCSE, but did at AS/A level, and was extremely committed.

I do not think it is necessarily a bar to entry, although of course, I am only going from anecdotal evidence.

Hi
I just wanted to second the point about 'turning a weakness into a strength'. Lots of schools/colleges seem to think it is best to not mention any (relative) weaknesses in an application but we woudl far rather that students are up front about things. I read a lovely heart-felt personal statement once from someone with mediocre GCSEs acknowledging that he hadn't worked very hard and had got the shock of his life on results day and was never going to make that mistake again! His reference confirmed the dramatic shift in attitude and overall it created a much stronger impression than those personal statements that try to make the student sound perfect in everyway ... even when the results say otherwise!