Self-evident solution

I'm confused. In a recent column in The Sunday Times, Sir Chris Woodhead, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, cited Higher Education Policy Institute statistics indicating that 35 per cent of students accepted to English universities in 2010 had no Universities and Colleges Admissions Service points. He added that a further 5 per cent were admitted with only two E grades at A level.

So, according to Woodhead, 40 per cent of last year's university intake were remarkably unqualified for admission.

Then we hear from various sources, including the University and College Union, that about 250,000 "qualified" students failed to gain admission to any university last year and that the horrible government is to blame for restricting funding for these deserving applicants.

I'm guessing that these "qualified" students, who likely held reasonable A-level scores, didn't get into the universities they had applied to, probably at the top end, and didn't consider applying to the low end as insurance.

Is it just me or can anyone else see an easy fix for this situation?

G. Colborne (taxpayer), Bristol.