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Almost 200 sixth-formers given a place at a leading university have had the offers retracted after admission blunders.
Exeter University agreed to take on the pupils, all of whom narrowly missed the A-level grades they needed to secure their places.
It sent out letters confirming the teenagers could start next month but days later 190 were told online and then over the phone that the offer had been a mistake.
By then, the admissions system had automatically barred the pupils from taking up their insurance choice university places.
In a separate mix-up, a further 188 sixth-formers were told they had been accepted at the Exeter campus when there was only space for them at the university's Cornwall campus nearly 100 miles away. They were then told there had been an error and the offer was wrong.
Professor Janice Kay, deputy vice-chancellor for education at Exeter, today said the university would honour the offer of a place at the Exeter campus for those who should be going to Cornwall but said the 190 who were accepted despite missing grades could not be accommodated. Instead they have been offered a deferred place to start next year. She said: "We are sorry that problems in our admissions process have caused uncertainty for some applicants. We made every possible effort to inform applicants as to the correct position as soon as we were aware of the problems."
Among those missing out is Jenny Cheetham, 18, of Camberley. She missed her predicted AAB grades by one mark. Exeter told her she would be accepted on their mathematics and economics course - an offer later retracted. She could now be left without a place at any university as she missed the first five days of clearing. She said she was "overjoyed" to receive her letter of acceptance but was left "shocked and numb" when that was taken away. She is considering taking a gap year and accepting the deferred place at Exeter.
At Miss Cheetham's school Farnborough Sixth Form College, two pupils had offers retracted. John Guy, the principal, said: "I think it's awful." He said parents of teenagers involved were considering suing the university.
Reader views (4)
You can't help but feel sorry for these kids. They've been left in a horrible situation. I hope they can sue Exeter for this mess
- Ray, Leighton Buzzard
Surely, a written offer is a contract. Sue them for breach of same.
- Marty, London
There's still plenty of room at some of the Welsh universities.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
Take the Gap year, study and retake exams needed for next year.
- William, Hay~Heath UK
