Judging Gen Y candidates on UCAS points ''flawed''

Recruiters should not use UCAS points when hiring Gen Y graduates, according to a professional.

Chris Jackson of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service explained that applicants will have more recent, relevant experience than their academic achievement in school.

Some candidates may have had less motivation while at school because of a lack of support while they were there, or have been at a disadvantage because class sizes were larger.

Ms Jackson said that the UCAS point system is not designed for graduate recruitment purposes and that employers could lose out on "fantastic talent" if they use it that way.

Concerns about UCAS points being wrongly used by employers are among the reasons why the organisation is now carrying out a full review of the system.

The National Union of Students'' president Aaron Porter welcomed the news, pointing out that students are now coming "with an increasingly diverse range of skills and experience".

Many do not have A-levels, a fundamental part of the UCAS system, which was developed a decade ago. Back