Academic rejected passes for dunces (7)

I believe the answer is:

noddies

'dunces' is the definition.
(both can mean stupid people)

'academic rejected passes' is the wordplay.
'academic' becomes 'don' (type of academic - especially at Oxbridge).
'rejected' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'passes' becomes 'dies'.
'don' reversed gives 'nod'.
'nod'+'dies'='NODDIES'

'for' acts as a link.

(Another definition for noddies that I've seen is " More than one bird".)

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