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University gaffe causes students to get advanced warning of A-level grades University gaffe causes students to get advance warning of A-level grades
(35 minutes later)
Students who had applied to Nottingham Trent university were dismayed to be told they had not achieved their expected A-level grades, after the university jumped the gun and emailed applicants to offer them places the day before results are officially published.Students who had applied to Nottingham Trent university were dismayed to be told they had not achieved their expected A-level grades, after the university jumped the gun and emailed applicants to offer them places the day before results are officially published.
Parents told the Guardian that one student received an email from Nottingham Trent's admissions office on Wednesday telling him: "Sorry you didn't get your predicted A-level grades. But we can still offer you a place." It was first indication that the student's results would not be as good as he had hoped.Parents told the Guardian that one student received an email from Nottingham Trent's admissions office on Wednesday telling him: "Sorry you didn't get your predicted A-level grades. But we can still offer you a place." It was first indication that the student's results would not be as good as he had hoped.
Parents who rang Nottingham Trent to find out what had happened were said to have been told by staff there that the university had received "quite a few calls" about the emails.Parents who rang Nottingham Trent to find out what had happened were said to have been told by staff there that the university had received "quite a few calls" about the emails.
A Nottingham Trent university spokesman said: "A small number of emails were unfortunately sent to applicants who have exceeded or slightly missed their required grades. The issue was identified and resolved very quickly. The emails, which did not disclose any results, were to offer applicants a place on a similar but alternative course."A Nottingham Trent university spokesman said: "A small number of emails were unfortunately sent to applicants who have exceeded or slightly missed their required grades. The issue was identified and resolved very quickly. The emails, which did not disclose any results, were to offer applicants a place on a similar but alternative course."
The error came as 300,000 students in Wales, Northern Ireland and England nervously await the publication of their A-level results on Thursday morning.The error came as 300,000 students in Wales, Northern Ireland and England nervously await the publication of their A-level results on Thursday morning.
Universities are informed of the A-level grades of their applicants ahead of their publication, but are barred from approaching students with offers or decisions until after results are sent out to students.Universities are informed of the A-level grades of their applicants ahead of their publication, but are barred from approaching students with offers or decisions until after results are sent out to students.
Ucas, the service that administers undergraduate applications, receives exam results from awarding bodies and supplies the data to universities under embargo, to allow institutions to make speedy decisions on ready for results day.Ucas, the service that administers undergraduate applications, receives exam results from awarding bodies and supplies the data to universities under embargo, to allow institutions to make speedy decisions on ready for results day.
An Ucas spokesman said: "Ucas wrote to each institution earlier this year reminding them of the importance of maintaining the embargo.An Ucas spokesman said: "Ucas wrote to each institution earlier this year reminding them of the importance of maintaining the embargo.
"Each institution returned a signed agreement confirming that they would respect the results embargo. Ucas takes any breach of the results embargo very seriously and will be following this up with institutions concerned as a matter of urgency.""Each institution returned a signed agreement confirming that they would respect the results embargo. Ucas takes any breach of the results embargo very seriously and will be following this up with institutions concerned as a matter of urgency."