“LAZY” FILTER SYSTEM BINNED AFTER BIAS TOWARDS PRIVATE SCHOOL GRADUATES IS REVEALED
One of the UK’s largest graduate employers is scrapping the use of a UCAS points minimum as an entry criteria for its graduate scheme, after it found that the system unfairly favours graduates who had attended private school.
Accountancy firm PwC has announced it will no longer use the so-called Ucas tariff — a system that converts A-level grades and other exam results into a points total — as a requirement for the PwC graduate scheme after finding that one in three of its graduate recruits had been privately educated. Failing to change would see them “miss out on key talent from disadvantaged backgrounds,” a spokesperson said.
The practice of using UCAS points – created as an indicator of a person’s potential for university, not the jobs market – has been controversial among graduates for some time. One Graduate Fog reader told us he feels the practice is “a lazy way of filtering graduates.” Another complained that “UCAS points aren’t meant to be used in this way” and suggested the government should crack down on the practice.
Now it seems there is an even stronger reason for ditching UCAS points as a graduate jobs entry requirement: it unfairly discriminates against candidates from less well-off backgrounds. It is now recognised that exam results can be distorted by school type, and long-standing evidence shows that state-educated students outperform their peers from private schools in terms of final university degree.
In other words, many students who do exceptionally well at university may not have performed particularly well at school. But if it wasn’t a great school – or they faced extra challenges during that period of their life – it is unfair to hold that against them.
Explaining the firm’s decision to modernise requirements for the PwC graduate scheme, Gaenor Bagley, PwC’s head of people said:
“As a progressive employer we recognise that talent and potential presents itself in different ways and at different stages in people’s lives. Removing the UCAS criteria will create a fairer and more modern system in which students are selected on their own merit, irrespective of their background or where they are from.
“By breaking down social barriers we will open the door to thousands of students who may have previously thought a graduate role with PwC was out of reach for them.”
And Richard Irwin, PwC’s head of student recruitment, added:
“We want to target bright, talented people and extend our career opportunities to untapped talent in wider pockets of society. Our experience shows that whilst A Level assessment can indicate potential, for far too many students there are other factors that influence results. Competition and assessment for our graduate roles will be as tough as ever – but those that want to get on with a career in business can do so.”
The move was welcomed by the Association of Graduate Recruiters, whose chief executive Stephen Isherwood said:
“Using a candidate’s UCAS points to assess their potential is a blunt tool and a barrier to social mobility. This is an innovate step by one of the most significant graduate recruiters in the UK. Other graduate employers should follow their lead.”
Applicants to PwC’s current graduate scheme were told they must have at least 340 points on the Ucas tariff. That would equate to at least two A-levels at A grade and one at B.
PwC’s graduate programme, voted the top scheme in the country for 12 years in row, will continue to filter applications by university degree results and through online behavioural and aptitude assessments that test students more closely on their capacity to learn, personal skills and overall suitability for the workplace.
Applications to PwC’s graduate schemes rose to 25,573 last year, 17 applications for every role, this is expected to rise considerably this year, as more candidates are eligible to apply. Last year PwC recruited from 82 UK universities.
*SHOULD ALL GRADUATE EMPLOYERS STOP USING UCAS POINTS TO FILTER APPLICANTS?
What do you think of PwC’s announcement – and should all graduate employers follow their lead? Do you feel you have been unfairly discriminated against by the UCAS tariff system, when applying for graduate jobs? Tell us what you think, below…
Well this is good news, I hope more major schemes follow. It’s grossly unfair, especially to older college leavers like myself who never would have had enough points. I remember being encouraged to pick only 3 subjects at A level, to make sure we did our best/had the time to study them properly.
Completely lazy system that automatically rejected you, and did not filter out the best candidates for the job. Academic background/final grades do not immediately mean the best person for the job and discriminate against all sorts of life events.
…But do they still insist on a 2.1/1st?
@JC I just checked their graduate brochure (link here: http://read.pwc.com/i/385114-graduate-brochure) and it looks like they ask for a ‘2:1 degree in any degree subject’.
However, they seem to have something called the ‘Outstanding achievement’ entry route, where your degree could be less than a 2:1 but they will still consider your application.
http://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/student/graduateopportunities/outstandingachievement.jhtml
What do you think of that? I know some graduates feel the 2:1 cut-off is very arbitrary – and there can be good reasons why someone may have just missed out on that grade. Lots of employers – EY spring to mind – will make allowances in cases where you can show why you got a 2:2 or below.
Even so, lots of graduates would say they don’t want to give personal details about why they got less than a 2:1 at such an early stage in the recruitment process. Others feel it is ‘elitist’ to ask for a 2:1. Personally, I’m on the fence on this one. I can see that sometimes employers will miss out on great candidates by saying ‘2:1 or above, only’ (I only just scraped mine!). That said, what is the point of working really hard at university if the fact you got a 2:1 or first doesn’t set you apart from those who got less?
It does seem reasonable, but as you say not keen on giving away personal details/problems to a complete stranger. I got a 2.2, but it was borderline with a 2.1 which was annoying. I also have a Masters, which on the Government’s own national qualifications framework, outranks a bachelors degree- It’s a higher level of achievement. I don’t think lower classifications of academic achievement should rule you out completely- there’s still a lot of work involved in gaining them, and not all degrees are equal.
In complete contrast however, my last employer did not even check that I had a degree at all! Didn’t last long there though, I was bullied out of that role by superiors who I also did not trust my personal problems to (mistook my episodes of depression for indifference and laziness)
It has always been disingenous of any employer who would indulge any of their Personnel Clerks who would obsess with a candidates A Level Attainment, irrespective of whether the candidate in question had a 1st Class or 2:1 Honours.
I’m currently studying Accounting in Scotland. I got to uni a year earlier on excellent fifth year higher grades. I’m expected to graduate with a First.
In the eyes of all other graduate schemes I don’t make the cut!
English students cannot realistically get into university without completing their final year but Scottish students can.
Seems to me like a loophole that Grad schemes failed to notice in Scotland. Plenty students here do well enough in High school to make it to university after taking 5-6 highers in one year, Then 4 years later are told you are from a “disadvantaged background”
Huh? I took 1 year to get the grades. Not 2!