Dear P Kumar

Freedom of Information request reference M/24/227

Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

The University of Leeds aims to respond to all FOI requests within 20-working days of receipt. If this timeframe changes, I will write to provide you with an update.

If you have any questions about your request, please contact us at [University of Leeds request email]

Regards

Information Compliance Officer
University of Leeds

show quoted sections

Dear P Kumar

Freedom of Information Response (Our Ref: M/24/227)

Thank you for your Freedom of Information ('FOI') request, reference M/24/227.

Your request read:

"1.) I am requesting for how GCSEs were scored for 2022,2023 and 2024 entry and whether they were scored anymore than the minimum entry requirements.

2.) What were the minimum UCAT/BMAT cut offs for interview for years 2022, 2023 and 2024

3.) Were A - Levels scored anymore than minimum requirements, if so, how?"

The University of Leeds holds some of the scoring information requested. However, we are withholding the information under section 36(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 36(2)(c) sets out that information is exempt from disclosure if, in the opinion of the organisation's Qualified Person, its release would or would be likely to otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. We have outlined the reason for engaging the exemption below, including an explanation of the public interest factors for and against disclosure.

We consider that to release this information would unduly prejudice the applications process. It is essential that applicants do not aim for a specific score in an attempt to unduly influence the process. We consider that releasing the cut off and minimum scores would be likely to encourage this behaviour, and would therefore jeopardise our ability to objectively judge candidates and make offers accordingly. Applications must be made based on the candidates' individual merits, and the process is designed to test not only the applicants' academic achievements, but also a range of wider skills which are required for a career in medicine. To pre-empt this process would therefore undermine the process as a whole.

Furthermore, candidates who attempt to 'learn the test' or 'game the system' may well have short term success (i.e. a score sufficient to secure an offer) but lack the inherent values and attributes to study medicine. Equally, candidates who are determinedly pursuing a particular score may fail to demonstrate their wider personal skills, as they are too focussed on 'the number' they are trying to achieve. It is therefore important to ensure that candidates are offering an honest account of themselves throughout the application process; it would be imprudent to release information which could increase the likelihood of candidates being coached to pass the selection process, only to struggle while on the course, or vice versa.

As outlined above, to release this information would prejudice the admissions process. It would also be likely to unduly damage the prospects of prospective applicants to the medicine course; disadvantaging genuinely strong candidates who may lose out on places in favour of candidates whose artificially strong applications belie poor overall suitability. Accordingly, we are satisfied that disclosure would be likely to result in prejudice to the effective conduct of our ordinary business. It is therefore the opinion of Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Hai-Sui Yu, the Qualified Person for the University of Leeds, that the exemption is engaged.

As the exemption is engaged, it is also necessary to consider whether the public interest is in favour of withholding or releasing the information.

There is an extremely strong public interest in maintaining the integrity of the admissions process, and in turn protecting the value of the medicine degree offered by the University of Leeds. Allowing the admissions process to be undermined as outlined above would limit our ability to train and develop future generations of practitioners and leaders. This would de-value the course, which is recognised as being of extremely high quality and is therefore necessarily selective. This would not be in the interests of applicants and students, who would suffer as a result of the de-valued course. Nor would this be in our interests, as any de-valuing of the course would be likely to result in fewer applications, a reduction in student income and therefore a reduced ability to provide excellent teaching. It is therefore clear that the release of this information would not be in the public interest.

It is therefore the opinion of Professor Hai-Sui Yu that the public interest is overwhelmingly in favour of withholding the information

Please note, a wide range of information on the entry process for this course is available on the school web page (link below).

https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/5580/medicin...

We hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions about this email, however, please do not hesitate to contact us on [University of Leeds request email]

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request, you can request an internal review. Requests for internal review should be made in writing using the following contact information:

Email: [University of Leeds request email]

Requests for internal review should be submitted within 40 working days of receiving the University's response to your request. Further information about how the University manages FOI requests and about our complaints procedure is available on our website (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/).

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the review/complaints procedure provided by the University. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Sincerely

Information Compliance Officer

University of Leeds

show quoted sections