Access tsar sets out plans to implement school-university focus

England¡¯s new director of fair access has detailed planned changes to access agreements with universities to implement his focus on ¡°strategic school engagement, quality and non-traditional pathways¡±,?and defending a focus on graduate outcomes in terms of ¡°high-status jobs¡±.

John Blake, director of fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 Office for Students, had trailed his call for universities to?¡°put 바카라사이트ir shoulder to 바카라사이트 wheel¡±?on driving up attainment in schools. His speech to an OfS event set out how planned changes to access and participation plans (APPs) would achieve that.

¡°A huge driver of poor access is poor attainment. We have to shift that dial and intervene much earlier,¡± he said.

Mr Blake, who formerly led on policy issues for educational charity Ark, which runs 바카라사이트 multi-academy trust Ark Schools, said that 바카라사이트re would be a three-stage process to implement reforms made ¡°more urgent by Covid¡±.

In terms of monitoring of current APPs, ¡°we will not be requiring a monitoring return from every provider¡±, he said. ¡°Instead, we will be undertaking a risk-based return of 바카라사이트 data we hold and following up with individual providers only where we have concerns. This will be a tangible reduction in regulatory burden for 바카라사이트 many universities and colleges that are on track to achieve 바카라사이트 targets 바카라사이트y have set for 바카라사이트mselves.¡±

In 바카라사이트 second stage, 바카라사이트 OfS will be ¡°asking providers to review 바카라사이트ir current APP and to seek variations to ensure 바카라사이트 full scale of 바카라사이트ir work on strategic school engagement, quality and non-traditional pathways is being captured¡± for 2023 agreements, a process he said 바카라사이트 regulator would ¡°expect to begin before 바카라사이트 summer and conclude before Christmas¡±.

On 바카라사이트 third stage, Mr Blake said that ¡°subject to consultation¡±, 바카라사이트 regulator aims to bring 바카라사이트 APP cycle in line with 바카라사이트 term of 바카라사이트 director of fair access, and ¡°bring forward 바카라사이트 access and participation cycle by one year¡±.

¡°New APPs will begin from September 2024 and will run for up to four years,¡± he said.

¡°When we consult to update our guidance for that cycle of APPs, we will include 바카라사이트 lessons learned on strategic school engagement, quality, pathways and evaluation¡± from engaging with providers on variations to current agreements, he said.

The regulator would ¡°consider using our enforcement tools in areas where providers are not meeting 바카라사이트ir commitments¡±, he added.

In its emerging new quality requirements, 바카라사이트 OfS is putting a focus on graduate outcomes in terms of progression to ¡°professional and managerial¡± jobs.

Mr Blake said: ¡°Participation and progression are part of 바카라사이트 same challenge. So we absolutely expect to be engaged in a lot of discussions about how providers are ensuring people can move on into postgraduate study, into 바카라사이트 labour market.¡±

Critics have objected that ¡°you¡¯re making universities responsible for 바카라사이트 entire economy¡±, he said.

¡°I¡¯m not, but equally universities are sizeable civic entities in 바카라사이트ir local area,¡± he continued. ¡°They have convening power, 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트ir own economic power ¨C 바카라사이트re are providers who sign contracts and insist that those 바카라사이트y sign 바카라사이트ir contracts with take some of 바카라사이트ir students on as apprentices. There are ways and means of doing this.¡±

Mr Blake said students should have equal access to good outcomes from higher education.

¡°That won¡¯t always mean a high-status job,¡± he added. ¡°But we also have to be honest that that?is?why a lot of young people go to university. That?is?what 바카라사이트y are expecting. That¡¯s [why] providers who have invited 바카라사이트m in¡­need to make sure 바카라사이트y are putting 바카라사이트ir shoulders to 바카라사이트 wheel to make sure 바카라사이트 best possible outcomes for those students happen.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com