Record number of UK school leavers gain university places through clearing

Ucas reported that 205,000 school leavers had gained places at their first or second choices, nearly 10,000 fewer than in 2022. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Record numbers of British teenagers have won university places through clearing, as the post-pandemic readjustment of A-level grades meant thousands in England missed out on their initial course offers.

The Ucas admissions service said 10,400 UK school leavers had been admitted through its clearing service by Friday, the day after A-level results were published in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – a sharp increase on the 6,600 placed at the same point last year.