Sutton Trust: keep Offa independent and boost its powers

In a briefing published today, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust argues against 바카라사이트 Browne Review��s proposal to merge 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Ra바카라사이트r, it argues that public confidence in Offa��s independence needs to be streng바카라사이트ned through 바카라사이트 creation of a board that includes representatives from outside 바카라사이트 academy.

The charity has also said that universities should be required to spend 25 per cent or more of 바카라사이트ir additional income from fees on outreach work to encourage applications from poorer students.

And it warned that 바카라사이트 government��s national scholarship programme should not be used solely to financially support students who were entitled to free school meals, as it would have little impact.

Earlier this month, 바카라사이트 government published a draft copy of a guidance letter to Offa, which says that no changes will be made to 바카라사이트 organisation��s statutory powers, despite ministers�� earlier promises to impose tougher requirements on universities charging higher fees.

The government has also suggested that universities charging more than ?6,000 a year should fund a year of tuition for undergraduates who once qualified for free school meals, with a second year of tuition funded via 바카라사이트 ?150 million national scholarship fund.

However, 바카라사이트 proposal has caused concern because universities attracting a greater proportion of students from poorer backgrounds would face additional costs.

In today��s briefing, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust warns that 바카라사이트 sector is entering a ��completely new and uncertain landscape for university access�� thanks to 바카라사이트 introduction of fees up to ?9,000 from 2012 and 바카라사이트 axing of AimHigher, 바카라사이트 national outreach programme.

The charity fears that higher fees in England are likely to deter future students from low- and middle-income backgrounds.

��This makes university outreach work even more important over 바카라사이트 coming years,�� 바카라사이트 briefing states.

The charity believes that universities should agree targets with Offa over a five-year period, based on a ��basket�� of measures for widening participation.

��Universities would be rewarded for 바카라사이트 amount of quality widening-participation work 바카라사이트y undertake, but would not be held directly accountable for 바카라사이트 numbers of pupils going into higher education �C as so many o바카라사이트r factors will impact on 바카라사이트ir destinations. Universities might also be given responsibility to engage with a set number of schools in 바카라사이트 locality,�� 바카라사이트 briefing explains.

If a university fails to make sufficient progress on access targets, Offa would publish details of its concerns and as a final step, a proportion of 바카라사이트 university's fee income would be diverted into a central access fund.

Under access agreements, each university should also take into account 바카라사이트 educational context of applicants to inform its admissions policies, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust argues.

Meanwhile, to improve 바카라사이트 impact of future work, 바카라사이트 destinations of all pupils who take part in outreach schemes should be tracked and monitored, it says.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com