For example, the proportion of students eligible for free school meals, the percentage who progress to Oxbridge or Russel Group universities, any resource or timetabling constraints – ones which might limit a student’s choice in subjects to study, and your typical provision. The most useful is information that we will not know from the UCAS form. You should always begin the reference with some contextual information about your school or college. We really rely on teachers, as educational professionals, to provide informed assessments of applicants.
Often the reference can be the one thing that sets an applicant apart from another. Providing an understanding of an applicant’s achievements within their education and home context is important. Durham receives a high volume of applications and often has to make difficult decisions about very similar candidates. Where I work at Durham University, UCAS references can often be crucial in determining whether or not we make an offer to an applicant. Why do universities value UCAS references?
