How To Provide A Reference

Posted by Rosa Schack on February 5th, 2021

Due to the ongoing disruption caused by COVID-19, we have worked with the Undergraduate Advisory Group, the Secondary Education Advisory Group, and Association of School and College Leaders, to understand the most important features of the reference and update guidance on reference writing for those of you who require more flexibility. We understand the difficulties you may be facing, with likely constraints both in time and resource, in producing references due to the impact of COVID-19. Contextual information about your COVID-19 response, particularly if your centre has encountered any specific consequences which are beyond those impacting all schools and colleges. Contextual information about your school. Extenuating circumstances related to applicant. It is strongly recommended that applicants applying for professional courses e.g. teaching, nursing, social work, and allied health professions receive a full and detailed reference as usual. Universities and colleges are being asked, when assessing and comparing applicants this year, to remember that the capacity of an applicant’s adviser to produce a full and detailed reference is not an indicator of that applicant’s potential. This information could be in the reference itself or, as previously suggested, create a web page with the information and put the URL address in the reference. Note: The UCAS reference doesn’t accept hyperlinks so you will need to write the URL (web page address) in full. GCSE and predicted grades, where applicable. If you have already completed, or are close to completing your full and detailed references as usual, please carry on and submit your applications as normal. The alternative mentioned above is to give you and your colleagues flexibility and choice, if you need it. Applicants will not be disadvantaged with either approach, and we have engaged with universities and colleges to ensure they are prepared for this option. Universities and colleges may contact the referee if further information is required, and of course if there are any changes or updates after submission, please do continue to liaise with the university and colleges concerned. Please note, this guidance is only for your 2021 cohort of applicants. We will continue to consult with both you and the sector to understand the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and any potential future changes to the reference process. If you are new to writing references, please see our full guidance. In the reference section, you will want to focus on the individual student, but we recognise that the wider context of the school or college can also offer context to the application. This information could be in the reference itself, or as previously suggested, on a web page specifically created - put the URL in the reference. AS levels, what vocational qualifications you offer, or your position on bypassing qualifications as part of Curriculum for Excellence. Don’t forget, the reference is not your only opportunity to provide information about your students, and the web page mentioned above does not replace direct engagement with universities and colleges. Universities and colleges welcome further dialogue with referees, and would urge schools and colleges to inform them of any changes to the applicant’s profile or circumstances that occur after the point of application. You can use up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text (including spaces and blank lines) - whichever comes first. If authority backlinks ’re writing a reference for an international applicant, please write in English. If their first language isn’t English, please comment on their ability to write and speak in English, and indicate if any of their studies were taught in English. When writing a reference for any applicant, including those outside the UK, please remember that - under the Data Protection Act 2018 - the applicant can ask for a copy of the reference and any other personal information we have about them. When you add into the online application, click ‘save’ regularly because it will time out after 35 minutes of inactivity. You can use some European characters in the reference. We recommend you save a copy of each reference you write for your records. Avoid repeating any of the information they’ve given in their application, unless you want to comment on it, and avoid mentioning any particular university or college. Applicants who apply independently, rather than linked to a school or college, must ask for a reference from someone who isn’t a family member, friend, partner or ex-partner, and they can’t write it themselves. We ask them to make sure they have the agreement of their chosen referee before entering their details into their application. What you will include in the reference will depend on how you know the applicant, and how familiar you are with their plans and experience. It’s a good idea to speak to them about their application before you write the reference. If the applicant is on an access course, foundation course or other one-year course, you might not have known them long enough to write a full reference. In this case, please say so and explain that you’re providing a temporary reference (including as much detail as you can) and confirm you will provide a complete reference next spring. All supplementary references should be sent directly to all the chosen course providers, and should quote the applicant’s Personal ID. If the applicant is recertificating their maths or further maths AS or A level, you should explain that they’re recertificating rather than resitting the exam. Students taking AS or A level maths or further maths are advised by awarding organisations to recertificate these qualifications at the end of the course, so that the best combination of grades is awarded. So this would mean AS maths would be listed as both a completed and pending qualification. Science A levels in England will have an additional grade that provides an indication of an applicant’s practical ability. In Wales and Northern Ireland, the assessment of practical skills will remain part of the overall grade and students will not receive an additional grade. Find out more in our Science practical - quick guide. If a student differs from the typical school or college profile, explain how - this is especially important if you have provided details about the context of your school or college which shows.