PwC Drops A-Levels In Bid To Recruit Best

A large firm of accountants is ditching A-levels as a way of selecting graduate recruits as it believes the qualifications are biased against those from poorer backgrounds.

PwC, which is one of the biggest graduate employers in Britain, says there is a strong correlation between wealth and A-level achievement.

The firm says that in order to get a more diverse selection of recruits, it will start using alternative testing methods to determine who is qualified.

Richard Irwin, PwC's head of student recruitment, said: "We want to target bright, talented people and extend our career opportunities to untapped talent in wider pockets of society.

"Our experience shows that whilst A-level assessment can indicate potential, for far too many students there are other factors that influence results.

"Competition and assessment for our graduate roles will be as tough as ever - but those that want to get on with a career in business can do so."

The firm, which is one of the 'Big Four' accounting giants, said the policy could "drive radical changes in the social mobility and diversity of the professional services' industry".

Until now the company had looked at an applicant's UCAS score, which gives points for the qualifications 16 and 17-year-olds have, as a way of screening which graduates to select.

But bosses now feel that the UCAS A-level grade score is related to class.

Many able candidates from poorer backgrounds - who for various reasons score lower A-level results - were stumbling at the first hurdle.

PwC has been rated the top graduate employer by the Sunday Times for the past 12 years and receives 17 applications for every graduate role it advertises.

Gaenor Bagley, board member and head of people at PwC, said: "As a progressive employer we recognise that talent and potential presents itself in different ways and at different stages in people's lives.

"Removing the UCAS criteria will create a fairer and more modern system in which students are selected on their own merit, irrespective of their background or where they are from."