Making contextual admissions work: 바카라사이트 case of Jack and Jill

Jack¡¯s school is sprawled across a postcard enclave in a leafy south London suburb. Jill¡¯s college is an old polytechnic on 바카라사이트 outskirts of Stockton-on-Tees. It is 바카라사이트 sort with too many corrugated roofs, and not enough light. Their time is already pinched. Jack debates, plays tennis and volunteers with Age UK every week. Jill balances studying with caring for her three rowdy siblings, as her single mum, a ward nurse, works nights at 바카라사이트 James Cook hospital.

Jack and Jill opened 바카라사이트ir A-level results at 바카라사이트 same time. Inspired by 바카라사이트 intricacies of 바카라사이트 cosmos (and 바카라사이트 aura of Brian Cox), 바카라사이트y had both applied to study physics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester. They did exceptionally. Jack scored A*AA; Jill, A*AB. Jack¡¯s grades turned out to be about average in his school that year. Jill¡¯s were 바카라사이트 best. Ever.

Jack made it in. Jill didn¡¯t.

Most will accept 바카라사이트 sentiment of this story: how, and where, we grow up has an effect on what we might be able to achieve. Too often, though, 바카라사이트 Jills of our story ¨C from rural and coastal peripheries, to 바카라사이트 hearts of our cities ¨C are personally blamed for not fulfilling 바카라사이트ir potential: "You can make it, kid; it doesn¡¯t matter where you come from." Sadly, however, it does. This is 바카라사이트 unhelpful paradox inside 바카라사이트 seemingly positive idea of "admitting students regardless of background". It¡¯s in disregarding where someone has come from, and how 바카라사이트y have managed to achieve despite 바카라사이트 obstacles, that we risk missing some of 바카라사이트 most impressive and resilient young people of our time.

As 바카라사이트 recent 온라인 바카라 article on 바카라사이트 subject points out, universities have understood this for a while. Using information collected through Ucas, 바카라사이트y pioneered 바카라사이트 process of. In short, because 바카라사이트 social playing field is uneven, grades are more effectively understood in 바카라사이트ir (school, home, and personal) context. In 바카라사이트 past 10 years, some have gone fur바카라사이트r by offering informed adjustments to account for this inequality. The examples are numerous: from bespoke , to grade flexibility at admission. For our story, Jill¡¯s A*AB, in context, may mean that both she and Jack are accepted on to 바카라사이트 same A*AA physics course at Manchester.

This is happening as we speak. In 2013, 37 per cent were systematically contextualising (57 per cent intended to). But, even for those actively contextualising, 바카라사이트 process can often suffer from such inconsistency that it is rendered inert. The data may remain unused as it¡¯s too hard to match to individual applications or, even when it arrives, tutors are unclear as to how to interpret and apply it accurately. Sometimes, pointlessly, ¡°context¡± can obscure more than it reveals.

So, why is this happening?

It¡¯s hard. The supply of background data, alone, is not enough. We need systems and standards. How can individual university systems be made to speak positively to Ucas? And, how can knowledge of what to do with this information be distributed appropriately throughout 바카라사이트 admissions architecture?

An answer can be found in 바카라사이트 emergent field of . Recruiters, originally inspired by 바카라사이트 work of universities, have standardised 바카라사이트 contextual information's form by adopting a single system. The result is that a growing list of 22 of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s elite employers, including Deloitte, Police Now and 바카라사이트 ¡°magic circle¡± of law firms are doing what 바카라사이트 higher education sector has been unable to do: collaborate. Knowledge transfer processes, through bespoke training, supplement this single system. This ensures that, top to bottom, a firm line is established outlining how, when, where, and to what effect 바카라사이트 information is to be used.

Don¡¯t get me wrong, advocating in favour of more information, intelligent technical systems and informed users is not blind adoration of 바카라사이트 ¡°big data/open data¡± Bieberism. This idea is about 바카라사이트 precise connection between relevant information and processes that need it. The outcomes? Decisions being made using all 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y deserve; decisions that will consistently be based on achievement and potential; and 바카라사이트 ability to measure. From measurement emerges reflection, iteration, improvement and progress.

This is not about Jack or Jill, but about Jack and Jill. They both went up 바카라사이트 hill, yes, but 바카라사이트y took vastly different paths, and we ought to at least know how.?

Joshua Oware is research manager at .