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Guys, King's and St Thomas's School of Medicine in London - already the UK's biggest medical school - is bidding for an extra 30 places, which it will use to target local school children.

The medical school plans to work with local schools to identify students with potential. If those encouraged to apply fail to get the grades they will be asked to apply through clearing for a place on a special biomedical science BSc that the school is setting up.

"If they perform to a certain standard, we will guarantee them places in the last three years of the school's medical degree," said Adrian Eddleston, the school's dean.

Local students without suitable A levels would be able to qualify in six years, rather than the traditional five, Professor Eddleston said. "I think this is the first time anyone has seriously proposed to bring in students without the grades but with the potential."