Call to allow art students into university without maths or English

Dyslexia Scotland, student leaders and headteachers last night said that entrance demands must be overhauled.

They warned inappropriate entry requirements for entry to degree courses can prevent able youngsters, particularly those with dyslexia, getting a degree.

Susie Agnew of Dyslexia Scotland described how her daughter's university tried to throw her off a veterinary degree because of her dyslexia. She fought to stay on the course and is now in her fourth year.

Ms Agnew said any applicant ticking the university application form's disability box should be given individual treatment.

"We are lucky in Scotland that we haven't got the huge population they have in England, therefore there is room to be treated more individually," she said.

"My generation needed to have a modern language even if you were doing physics. That has now been dropped, but why are they insisting on maths if you are going to do art?

"I do feel quite strongly that the appropriateness of exams to the end result needs to be looked at. And from the point of view of dyslexics, inappropriate things are even more stressful."

The concerns come as many universities tackle record application levels by simply raising the grades and number of qualifications needed.

Student leaders called on universities to be more flexible in their entrance requirements to ensure those with the most potential won places.

Kainde Manji, women's officer at the National Union of Students Scotland, said: "Simply going on grades alone or simply looking at the subjects someone has studied misses the point. For example, while it's common practice for universities to ask for English and maths, these may not be needed for certain degrees and courses. Why ask for them if they're not needed?"

She also called for a more individualised approach which judged each student's potential to succeed rather than applications to university being a "tick-box exercise".

Ms Manji added: "We need to get the best out of every talented person regardless of background."

Rod Grant, headteacher at independent school Clifton Hall, Edinburgh, said: "You can hardly find a degree course that does not make mathematics at Standard Grade a requirement.

"I am heartbroken for those kids who struggle with those required competencies but who display a real talent."

He said the current system disenfranchised some young people from higher education.

A spokesman for Universities Scotland said it was up to individual institutions to decide on entry requirements.

However, he added: "There are not many subjects where basic maths is not likely to have some use, and good communication is important for all subjects."