Explaining contextual flags

Applications are automatically flagged when they come into our system from UCAS which means you don’t need to apply for contextual data.

The following flags are applied:

WP Flag

A WP flag will be applied if you meet our postcode criteria (POLAR4 Quintile 1 or Acorn category 4 (Financially Stretched) or 5 (Urban Adversity)).

Please note: the postcode data used is from April 2023 and outcomes may therefore differ to what is returned via search tools on the Acorn and POLAR4 websites.

WP Plus Flag

A WP Plus flag will be applied if you meet our postcode criteria AND one of your schools is flagged as having performed below the national average. 

WP Plus PLUS

A WP Plus PLUS flag will be assigned to applicants with refugee status and those who have been in care for more than three months. Remember to indicate your circumstances when asked on your UCAS application form so that your application is flagged when it comes into our system:

• whether you've been ‘looked after’ or ‘in care’ for more than three months.

You'll be asked this on your UCAS form and should answer 'yes' if you've spent time in local authority care living with foster carers, in a children's home or if you've been 'looked after' at home under a home supervision order in Scotland.

• whether you have refugee status.

You'll be asked for your 'residential category' on your UCAS form and should choose ‘refugee’ if you have been granted this status.

Am I eligible?

Use our eligibility tool to see if you could receive a contextual offer for 2024.