University students could start their studies in January as Liz Truss eyes education shake-up

• Liz Truss pledges for pupils with straight A*s at A level to interview at Oxbridge
• The admissions system would change so they apply after getting results
• Sixth formers could sit exams earlier or the university start date would move
• Rival PM hopeful Rishi Sunak also wants to transform post-16 education 

The beginning of the university year could be shifted to January under Liz Truss’s planned shake-up of education.

It would result from the Tory leadership favourite’s pledge to automatically invite all pupils receiving straight A*s at A-level to an interview at Oxford or Cambridge.

To achieve this, the admissions system would have to be changed so they apply after getting their results. 

At present, universities make offers based on predicted A-level grades, with places confirmed once the results have been published.

Two possible options to carry out Miss Truss’s pledge would be for sixth-formers to sit A-levels earlier or for the start of the university year to move from September to January. 

Liz Truss pledges to automatically invite all pupils receiving straight A*s at A-level to an interview at Oxford or Cambridge, meaning the start of the university year could move to January. Pictured: Stock image of a teacher with university students 

However, the latter would mean universities in England would be out of step with those in the rest of the UK and around the world.

Yesterday her rival Rishi Sunak set out his plan to transform post-16 education.

This includes boosting the prestige of vocational training by creating a grouping of world-class technical colleges comparable to the Russell Group of top British universities. 

The former chancellor also wants to clamp down on degrees which saddle students with debt without improving their life chances.

In addition, he plans a new British Baccalaureate requiring all 16-year-olds to study core subjects, including maths and English, beyond GCSE.

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