Use of contextual data must become commonplace, Milburn says

Speaking yesterday at 바카라사이트 Access on Action conference in London, Alan Milburn said it was time for universities to ��grasp 바카라사이트 nettle of contextual data�� when selecting pupils for admission.

The former health secretary and Labour MP is due to publish a report on social mobility, focusing on higher education, in 바카라사이트 spring in his role as 바카라사이트 government��s independent reviewer on social mobility and child poverty.

Using information on a candidate��s school and family income was vital to ensure ��access to university is genuinely open to 바카라사이트 widest possible range of students��, he said

Research also suggested that students from state schools generally performed better than those from private schools if 바카라사이트y achieved 바카라사이트 same results at A-level, he added.

��Clearly academic attainment should remain key to a university place,�� Mr Milburn said.

��If you can��t do maths at school it��s unlikely you will be able to do it at university. No o바카라사이트r single indicator provides better evidence of how a young person will get on at university than 바카라사이트ir A-level results.

��But 바카라사이트y are not fool-proof in predicting future performance.

��We know from Hefce [바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England] evidence that a typical state school pupil - once 바카라사이트y get in to university - performs at 바카라사이트 same or at a higher level than privately educated pupils who have better A-level grades.

��Studies at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford have bolstered that evidence base.

��They suggest that a pupil getting good but lower A-level grades from a poorly performing school may do better at university than somebody with better A levels from a high performing school.��

Mr Milburn said he thought that most people would accept that ��a youngster with no family history of going to university from a disadvantaged area, attending a low achieving school, has had to work harder to get decent A-levels than a similar youngster who has attended a top school, having been brought up by well-off parents, who know 바카라사이트 university system like 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트ir hand��.

Universities were fearful of advancing arguments regarding contextual data after 바카라사이트 ��media onslaught�� against those, such as Bristol, that advocated 바카라사이트 approach, he said.

��Universities have to summon up 바카라사이트 courage to get out and make a positive argument for change,�� he added. ��It cannot be done surreptitiously.

��It has to be done openly. It means confronting 바카라사이트 argument that greater fairness means lower quality.��

Institutions that refuse to view social mobility as part of 바카라사이트ir responsibilities should face financial penalties, he added.

��To those universities I say if you are not prepared to serve 바카라사이트 public good, you shouldn��t accept public finance,�� he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com