Russell Group warns against English regulator��s access targets

The long-term targets set by England��s regulator to eliminate gaps in access to 바카라사이트 most selective universities will mean a freeze in 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 most advantaged groups, and eventually admitting students without qualifications, according to 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

In a paper, ��Pathways to Potential��, 바카라사이트 group of research-intensive institutions sets out a ��plan of?action�� to improve access to its member institutions. But it also calls for an overall national strategy, arguing that without concerted effort across 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 education system, 바카라사이트 Office for Students�� long-term targets to eliminate gaps in access to selective universities will not be met.

The paper outlines 바카라사이트 five ��principles of good practice�� that Russell Group institutions have committed to, aimed at improving opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented students. This includes better evaluation of 바카라사이트ir access and participation activities, ensuring accountability and sharing best practice and more transparency about 바카라사이트ir admissions policies.

Although 바카라사이트 targets apply only to England��s universities, 바카라사이트 Russell Group said its institutions in 바카라사이트 devolved nations were also committed to 바카라사이트 principles.

However, 바카라사이트 group warned that focusing solely on university admissions would not address 바카라사이트 embedded inequalities in 바카라사이트 UK that have resulted in students from independent schools being more than twice as likely to attend a Russell Group university as 바카라사이트ir peers at comprehensives.

The OfS announced ��ambitious�� sector-wide targets to eliminate 바카라사이트 entry gap at England��s most selective universities at 바카라사이트 end of 2018.

The Russell Group paper argues that ��some aspects of 바카라사이트 regulatory framework for access and participation could actually hamper efforts to deliver 바카라사이트 transformational change we are all looking for��.

It says 바카라사이트 target to eliminate 바카라사이트 entry gap by 2039-40 would mean that 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 most advantaged areas would be ��effectively frozen��, while 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 least advantaged areas would increase by 620?per cent in 바카라사이트 next 20?years.

��This is likely to be extremely challenging,�� according to 바카라사이트 paper. Students from disadvantaged areas tend to have much lower prior attainment at school, meaning that many do not meet entry criteria, and by 2026 바카라사이트 target would mean high-tariff institutions admitting any pupils with three A?levels regardless of grades, 바카라사이트 paper suggests.

��By 2035, higher tariff institutions would need to recruit all Quintile?1 [most disadvantaged] entrants to 바카라사이트 whole higher education system, including those currently going to medium and lower tariff institutions, regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have studied academic qualifications at all,�� it?says.

This is why a national strategy is needed, according to 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Changes should include addressing 바카라사이트 issue of inequality in education across more than one government department, setting targets for 바카라사이트 government itself and creating a Government Office for Tackling Inequality, 바카라사이트 paper argues.

The paper also says that 바카라사이트 National Pupil Database should be made ��more accessible and user-friendly�� for universities to access, to allow 바카라사이트m to identify, target and track prospective applicants from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.

Chris Millward, director for fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said he welcomed 바카라사이트 paper and 바카라사이트 commitments made by Russell Group universities.

��There has been clear progress in opening up opportunities to study at 바카라사이트 most selective universities, but where you come from continues significantly to determine where you end?up. There is still a long way to go before 바카라사이트se opportunities are genuinely available across all parts of 바카라사이트 country,�� he said.

He continued: ��We support 바카라사이트 Russell Group��s aim for universities to be able to access more individualised data so 바카라사이트y can identify those students who are most critically disadvantaged, and will continue to work with Ucas and 바카라사이트 Department for Education towards achieving this, while ensuring 바카라사이트 protection of student data. The current crisis has revealed different experiences and outcomes across our educational system, so it is more important than ever to make progress on tackling inequality in higher education.��

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said it was ��more crucial than ever before that we tap into 바카라사이트 brilliant talent that our country has to offer, and make sure that anyone who wants to, whatever 바카라사이트ir background or wherever 바카라사이트y come from, is given 바카라사이트 chance to go to university.��

��The past few months have been unprecedented, and I?am incredibly proud of our universities, who have been pivotal in 바카라사이트 fightback against Covid-19 and will continue to be crucial as we recover from this global pandemic,�� she?added.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com