I don't know, I think there is an argument to say 3 Bs from the worst schools where constantly disruption to learning is routine says as much about someone as A* across the board from a good school like my missus got what seems like many, many years ago now.

I also question, though fully understand the point, that a student getting BBB at A level might well struggle at university. I did terribly during my A levels, purely because the whole approach to A level learning at my school didn't work for me. My parents were even told "some children will never be academic".

I did far worse than BBB, yet averaged over 90% first year of university because it was such a different learning environment. It totally changed my entire outlook on education.

My BSc didn't really care for text books or learning by route to answer exam questions, it was heavily researched lead focusing almost entirely reading actual current literature. The whole environment was set up from day one to teach us how to learn for ourselves and how to approach a situation in an evidence based, logical way.

I adore learning in that way. I wouldn't have my current career without my degrees don't get me wrong, but the true value of my degrees in my eyes is the above - it taught me to love learning for myself.

A levels on the other hand? Well that taught me that the teachers word was gospel, questioning information usually landed me in hot water (I mean pre-GCSE I got sent to the head master for questioning whether Antarctica was a desert or not, and if it was surely the Sahara wasn't the largest desert. My parents got called in for "answering back") and that education was a simply "black and white" answer scenario.

I do agree with the point you make, I do agree many may well struggle. But that doesn't mean all of them will, and those that will excel shouldn't be denied a chance in my opinion.

It's a difficult one really isn't it, because on the same hand I can entirely see the arguments opposing everything I've just said and even the idea of lowering entry requirements.

I guess it comes down to the question so we want our university to be elitists places for the top students to excel in an environment designed for them, or do we want university to offer all an opportunity? Realistically, I don't think the current system does either very well.