Pharmacy schools have hit back at criticism that they are creating a “conveyor belt of students”.

The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP), part of trade union Unite, blamed the lowest June registration exam pass rate in six years on the “variable standard” of students admitted, and criticised universities for prioritising quantity over quality. Universities produce “many” students who “fail at the final hurdle”, it said last week.

The University of Sunderland responded that “close to 100%” of its pharmacy students gained employment within six months of graduating. “We produce highly skilled and valued pharmacy graduates who go on to become highly skilled and valued pharmacists,” it told C+D.

The university has a “limited number” of places available for students who do not make the pharmacy school’s entry standards, it added.

The University of Hertfordshire told C+D that it “works to maintain the average course entry” level when accepting students through its clearing process. This means any additional students accepted onto the course will replace those who achieved lower grades than expected, it said. 

"Careful" consideration before offers

The University of Central Lancashire – which was criticised by the General Pharmaceutical Council last month for allowing students with low grades onto its pharmacy course – said it considers a range of factors “very carefully” before offering a place.

“Academic qualifications are an important indicator of an applicant’s ability to pass the course, but so is previous work experience and motivation to succeed,” it told C+D.

Marcus Rattray, head of Bradford University’s school of pharmacy, said the university admits applicants “as individuals” and is confident that all the graduates are “fit to practise”. “We know of no evidence to suggest that the standard of our graduates is slipping,” he told C+D.

The GHP obtained data from freedom of information requests to 22 universities in England and Wales, which it claimed show a “clear association” between lower entry criteria and lower registration exam pass rates.

GHP president Vilma Gilis said at the time that the reduction in student quality had led to a quarter of pre-registration students failing June’s exam. This was “unacceptable” for the graduates and their future employers, she added.

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