A BASINGSTOKE student’s future hangs in the balance after his university place was rejected due to the government’s algorithm.

Eighteen-year-old Harrison Gorst, who dreams of becoming a barrister, received a conditional offer to read law at the University of Bristol.

But his future is uncertain after he initially lost his place due to the government’s system downgraded him.

The Department for Education ditched the contentious method on Monday after widespread criticism but now it could be too late for Harrison, who is waiting to hear from Bristol to find out if they will accept him.

“I got a conditional offer to study law at The University of Bristol but was rejected on Thursday after getting my results. I’ve now to got to see if they will re-offer me a place but I haven’t heard back from them. My future is looking uncertain,” the QMC pupil, from Bramley, told The Gazette.

“I want to become a barrister but I’ve got my eyes open. I know there will already be obstacles in my way. It seems unfair that my future will now be made even more difficult because of the government’s arbitrary marking system.”

Andover Advertiser: Pictured: Harrison Gorst Pictured: Harrison Gorst

 Fellow QMC student Olivia Styles, from Hatch Warren, was so enraged by the marking system that she set fire to her downgraded results.

The 18-year-old said: “I am not the only one who was victimised by an algorithm. I gave a speech saying the government has completely screwed this up.”

Harrison said he has written to Maria Miller to ask for her advice, as she attended a state school before becoming a barrister.

“I asked if she thought it was fair that I could have lost my university place because of a government computer,” he said.

“She responded but didn’t really answer the question. She just said she got into university through ‘grit and determination’. It’s not that I don’t have that, or I don’t have the grades. I was rejected because of an unfair marking system.”

Harrison said he previously had felt supportive of the government but now believed the education secretary Gavin Williamson must resign.

He said: “It was a huge oversight to allow Ofqual to mark grades in this way. The government said they only became aware on Saturday. That is either a lie or completely unacceptable. I’m not one to call for people’s heads to roll but I really do think Gavin Williamson should resign over this.”

Andover Advertiser: QMC student Olivia Styles burns her A level results at a protest in London. PA QMC student Olivia Styles burns her A level results at a protest in London. PA

The teenager, who attended Willink School in Burghfield before starting at QMC to study politics, English and law, said its “Bristol or nothing” at this stage.

“I have my heart set on going to Bristol. I just really liked the feel of the city and the campus when I looked around. Law is what I want to do,” he said.

He praised QMC for supporting him and said head Ali Foss has even written to Bristol to urge them to accept his place.

“I can’t stress enough how incredible QMC have been. The principal Ali Foss called me personally to see what she could do to help. Another member of staff rang me on their day off. They’ve really done all they can,” he said.

Andover Advertiser: The University of Bristol (Credit: UoB) The University of Bristol (Credit: UoB)

The University of Bristol takes a lower selection of students from state higher education colleges. In 2019, statistics showed nearly 40 per cent of its students were privately educated.

And only 11 per cent of students at the university came from disadvantaged areas, according to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.