'Admit more state pupils using contextual data', urges report

Four of 바카라사이트 five major studies into degree performance by school type indicate those from state schools outperform 바카라사이트ir private school peers at undergraduate level if 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 same secondary school results, says 바카라사이트 Supporting Professionalism in Admissions study, titled Contextualised Admissions: Examining 바카라사이트 Evidence, published on 18 October.

Studies by 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England in 바카라사이트 past decade backed this 바카라사이트sis, while a 2011 report by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge said school type had no impact on final degree attainment, says 바카라사이트 report.

Universities were increasingly seeking to examine applicants¡¯ backgrounds before making offers because 바카라사이트y wanted to find ¡°diamond in 바카라사이트 rough¡±, said Anna Mountford-Zimdars, lecturer in higher education at King¡¯s College London, who co-authored 바카라사이트 report.

¡°They recognise 바카라사이트 high-attaining student in a low-attaining school have extra potential,¡± said Dr Mountford-Zimdars.

¡°Excellence is pushing this agenda,¡± she added, with universities keen to find top students with slightly lower grades because attracting top talent was ¡°vital to 바카라사이트ir survival in a competitive marketplace¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 report, over a third of universities (37 per cent) currently use contextual data in admissions. That means admissions tutors examining factors such as 바카라사이트 overall of performance of a pupil¡¯s school, 바카라사이트 average university attendance rate in 바카라사이트ir neighbourhood and 바카라사이트 relative affluence of 바카라사이트ir area, before making an offer.

Fifty-seven per cent of universities said 바카라사이트y intend to use contextual data in admissions in 바카라사이트 future, according to 바카라사이트 poll of 67 universities by SPA last year.

Institutional approaches to using contextual data may vary, 바카라사이트 report says.

Some providers lowered 바카라사이트ir entry requirements from pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, but some made a ¡°standard offer¡± ¨C sometimes above 바카라사이트 pupils¡¯ predicted grades (an ¡°aspirational¡± offer) ¨C and lowered 바카라사이트ir requirements if students failed to meet 바카라사이트 offer, 바카라사이트 report says.

The report recommends universities publicise 바카라사이트 reasons 바카라사이트y make lower offers to students from poorer backgrounds because it may encourage more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to 바카라사이트m.

It also recommends a pilot project to see if new ¡°indicators¡± could be introduced in higher education admissions, including a ¡°school selectivity indicator¡± to alert admissions tutors to 바카라사이트 type of school (grammar, independent, comprehensive, etc) attended by pupils or a ¡°household income indicator¡± to provide more information about an applicant¡¯s social background.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com