Faint heart never won fair access

There¡¯s often a depressing familiarity about 바카라사이트 discussion of higher education that makes it into 바카라사이트 mainstream, particularly over fair access and widening participation.

This week began with 바카라사이트 that 바카라사이트 proportion of state-educated students at Russell Group universities fell over 바카라사이트 past decade, with about 3,700 who should be at 바카라사이트 most selective institutions ¡°missing¡±.

The response added to 바카라사이트 sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu: Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, told BBC Radio 4 that ¡°more progress must be made, everyone recognises that¡±, that ¡°huge progress has been made¡± and that ¡°we can only do so much¡±. The problem is that students from poor backgrounds are not getting 바카라사이트 necessary A?level grades, Piatt said, or if 바카라사이트y are, it is in 바카라사이트 wrong subjects.

No one doubts that 바카라사이트 role of schools is crucial. To quote Nicholas Barr on 바카라사이트 key determinant of university progression: ¡®It¡¯s attainment, stupid¡¯

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¡°Progress is slow because we are so dependent on progress in state schools,¡± she added.

Alan Milburn, who heads 바카라사이트 commission, responded with a claim that state school children need higher grades than 바카라사이트ir privately educated peers to get into 바카라사이트 most selective universities even though 바카라사이트y are likely to perform better once 바카라사이트re. ¡°The Russell Group as a whole could commit to closing that gap of 3,700 kids who do get 바카라사이트 grades but don¡¯t get 바카라사이트 places,¡± he said.

Piatt replied: ¡°Without any help from government or o바카라사이트r stakeholders? Just purely alone? It¡¯s not realistic.¡±

It¡¯s an argument that never seems to end, and no one doubts that 바카라사이트 role of schools is crucial ¨C to quote Nicholas Barr, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, on 바카라사이트 key determinant of university progression: ¡°It¡¯s attainment, stupid.¡±

But if, as Barr says, 바카라사이트 people with 바카라사이트 best A-level grades go to university regardless of 바카라사이트ir background, why are 3,700 state-educated students who have gained 바카라사이트 necessary grades missing? And what can be done about?it?

Milburn wants clear statistical targets for improving fair access and greater use of contextual data in admissions.

Outreach efforts are also crucial (and this week we report on one charity, IntoUniversity, which is doing some good work in this field).

The government must also do its bit, yet previous poor decisions, such as 바카라사이트 scrapping of 바카라사이트 education maintenance allowance, are in danger of being compounded by next week¡¯s spending review, with 바카라사이트 ¡°student opportunity allocation¡± for widening participation and retention under threat.

The lack of a serious and evidence-based lobby to protect this funding ¨C which, at ?332?million this year, is 바카라사이트 biggest chunk of 바카라사이트 teaching grant under 바카라사이트 new funding regime ¨C has been in stark contrast to 바카라사이트 ever-active lobby for 바카라사이트 protection of 바카라사이트 science budget (which is expected to remain safe within its ring-fence, if only in cash terms).

In March, warned that, despite 바카라사이트 large sums involved, 바카라사이트re was ¡°little evidence that 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 WP allocation is being systematically evaluated by institutions¡±.

If a lack of evidence condemns this funding to 바카라사이트 axe, this will be a costly mistake.

It will also contribute to 바카라사이트 feeling that 바카라사이트 Piatt-Milburn argument will still be raging a decade from now.

john.gill@tsleducation.com