SCOTTISH universities need a radical overhaul of their admissions procedures to prevent discrimination against pupils, a new report warns.

The call follows the introduction of Scotland's new school curriculum which allows much greater flexibility over when pupils sit Higher exams.

Universities prefer pupils to sit five Highers required for entry in one year as it demonstrates their ability to cope with a tough workload. In some courses – such as medicine and law – it is a prerequisite.

But under the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) pupils will be allowed to sit Highers earlier or later to allow for different rates of progress – with some taking them over two years.

A report by Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, warns of a wide variation in how prepared universities are for the new curriculum.

The report states: "It is clear that individual universities are already taking action to develop responsive strategies to CfE by making admissions policies more flexible.

"However, there are wide variations among institutions in their levels of involvement, and the stages they have reached in formally planning for the future."

The report calls for a review of admissions policy within each institution to ensure they will be able to give "fair and equal consideration to candidates who have followed diverse routes to qualification".

The report highlights the planning difficulties faced by universities because of uncertainties with CfE. The report states: "Many schools are adopting approaches on an evolutionary year-by-year basis."

Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers, said: "With this kind of commitment to collaboration and communication the future prospects of Scotland's young people as they move to future study should be assured."

Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, added: "A more flexible schools system cannot create penalties for young people who want to go on to higher education."