Hi Mike

Thanks for the advice to look at those web pages, but if I have read them correctly, none of the
HESA fields referred to contains the data that league table compilers should use.

Most sensibly, they should take either the tariff points from the best 12 non-duplicated units of A
levels and 6 non-duplicated any units, or the tariff points from the best 12 non-duplicated units of
A levels and 9 non-duplicated any units - since most leading universities are assessing applicants
on one or both of those two measures.  HESA provides neither of these.

The closest that HESA comes is the TOTALTS, which gives the tariff points from *all* non-duplicated
units - but in extreme cases this can give such an excessive weighting to 'breadth' as to be almost
useless.  A candidate with six AS levels all grade A would be credited with 360 in TOTALTS, yet they
wouldn't have got themselves ready for HE!

I'd be delighted if you could tell me that I'm wrong.


Anthony Young
Director of Planning
Sussex

> From:         Michael Milne-picken <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:         Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:59:43 +0100
> Subject: Re: A level scores
> To:           [log in to unmask]
> Reply-To:     "Academic, financial or space planning in UK universities"
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
> It will be the HESA return for 2002-03 that will be used by newspaper and other league table
> compilers.  The previously used fields (23/24) for A level and Higher Points scores are removed
> and replaced with new fields including one for total tariff score.  The arrangement and method
> for calculating tariff scores was described in detail in HESA Student Circulars 01/04 (Nov 2001)
> and 02/01 (May/June 2002) and available at:
> http://www.hesa.ac.uk/circulars/student/2001/01_04.htm
> http://www.hesa.ac.uk/circulars/student/2002/02_01.htm
> Annex 2 of 02/01 explains how the calculation should be done.
>
> Mike Milne-Picken
> Head of Planning & Performance Review
> University of Central Lancashire
> PRESTON
> PR1 2HE
> Tel: +44 (0)1772 892391
> Fax: +44 (0)1722 892943
> [log in to unmask]
> www.uclan.ac.uk/planning
>
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 26 September 2002 09:08:40 >>>
> The Times standard population (info from HESA) for A-level scores is new students on a first
> degree programme(Qualification aims 19-24)aged less than 21 whose highest qualification on entry
> (QUALENT2) is 40 (A/AS level), with HESA A-level field 157 ALEVELS in 01, 02, 03, 04 or 97 (A or
> AS levels or combination) and excludes Scottish Highers or vocational qualifications.  Zero
> values are also excluded as are foundation years (Year 0).
>
> David
>
> Dr D R Elliott
> Planning and Executive Support Unit
> Room 222, Maxwell
> University of Salford
>
> Telephone: 0161 295 4816  (Internal 54816)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fiona Robertson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 26 September 2002 08:31
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: A level scores
>
>
> New student enrolment here is more or less complete and we are being asked
> for  average A level scores.  I am uncertain  whether we should be
> providing tariff averages based on A/AS levels only or averages based on
> total tariff.    I'd be interested to know what others are proposing to
> do.  Or does anyone know what average the newspaper league tables will be
> using?
>
> Thanks if you can help.
>
>
>
> Fiona Robertson
> Assistant Registrar
> Planning Office
> University of Bradford
> BD7 1DP
>
> --------------------
> phone - 01274 235080
> fax  01274 235740
>



Anthony Young
Director of Planning, University of Sussex
Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH
01273 678709