Aimhigher brought down by coalition axe

Speaking at a Universities UK conference in London today, David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said funding for 바카라사이트 Aimhigher programme will cease next year.

Mr Willetts said: ¡°Aimhigher has assisted universities and schools to learn a lot about what works in raising 바카라사이트 aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, but we now need to use this knowledge to make much faster progress on social mobility.

¡°Spending on Aimhigher has fallen by 43 per cent since 2004. The introduction of 바카라사이트 ?2.5 billion pupil premium and 바카라사이트 ?150 million National Scholarship Programme give us 바카라사이트 opportunity to take a ¡®whole-of-education¡¯ approach, starting much earlier and supporting pupils to turn school-based achievement into success at university.¡±

He added: ¡°In 바카라사이트 future, universities wanting to charge [tuition fees of] more than ?6,000 will be required to participate in 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme and will be monitored to ensure 바카라사이트y enrol an increasing number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.¡±

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says that 바카라사이트 government will work to establish a new ¡°framework¡± for widening participation, which will place more responsibility on universities.

It says Aimhigher will close at 바카라사이트 end of this academic year.

Under coalition proposals to raise 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees, universities wanting to charge more than ?6,000 a year will have to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir involvement in outreach initiatives and 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme, which will target bright students from poor backgrounds.

¡°It is right that universities and schools have 바카라사이트 freedom and flexibility to decide how to spend 바카라사이트ir resources in a way that offers 바카라사이트 greatest benefit to 바카라사이트ir pupils and students,¡± 바카라사이트 BIS statement says.

According to 바카라사이트 department, Aimhigher received ?136 million in 2004, but its annual funding is currently ?78 million.

The programme is designed to raise 바카라사이트 awareness, aspirations and attainment of young people through activities such as university taster sessions and summer schools.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, executive director of Aimhigher West, Central and North London, said 바카라사이트 programme was a key part of 바카라사이트 information, advice and guidance needed by young people, adding that over 바카라사이트 years it had built up ¡°a great deal of expertise¡±.

The idea that widening participation work could continue at 바카라사이트 current level without a national scheme was ¡°not valid¡±, he said.

Dr A바카라사이트rton also asked what would happen in 2011-12, 바카라사이트 year before new access agreements required from universities charging higher fees, are due to come into place.

Sir Martin Harris, director of fair access, said: ¡°Aimhigher has played a significant role in establishing best practice and developing effective collaborative partnerships and it will be important that 바카라사이트 lessons it has learned are not lost following its demise.¡±

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, claimed that ministers were sending 바카라사이트 ¡°miserable message¡± to students and 바카라사이트ir families that ¡°ra바카라사이트r than aim higher, 바카라사이트y should aim lower¡±.

He said: "Attempts to triple tuition fees, slash education budgets, and remove 바카라사이트 Education Maintenance Allowance from poorer college students whilst simultaneously pulling 바카라사이트 plug on Aimhigher will give fur바카라사이트r cause to those who believe this government wish to restrict education to a narrow elite.¡±

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com