Sadly, it's also an idea that is going out of style in a society where students expect to get good grades just for showing up, where everyone gets a ribbon no matter where they finish, and where parents scheme to get their kids into college by lobbying state legislatures to create set-asides for in-state residents at public universities.

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The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) requires pupils to get good GCSE grades in English, maths, sciences, history or geography and a language.

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Students learned to pass tests and get good grades.

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You also need good grades to get into those.

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The report warns that graduates without work experience will struggle to get jobs no matter how good their grades.

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The transfer scheme works only in some states and only for students who get good enough grades to be admitted to the brand-name university.

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It is hoped those who participate will gain good enough A-level grades to get into the university as undergraduates but, crucially, they are also given extra credits if they complete the summer school courses.

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