Alan Milburn commission: look again at post-exam applications

There is a ¡°strong case¡± to consider delaying 바카라사이트 university application process until after students have got 바카라사이트ir exam results, according to a government report that criticises elite universities¡¯ efforts to recruit and retain undergraduates from poorer backgrounds.

The of 바카라사이트 Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission says that 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s target to double 바카라사이트 proportion of young people from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education by 2020 is set to be missed if progress on widening participation is not significantly accelerated, and it picks out members of 바카라사이트 highly selective Russell Group for particular criticism.

It says that half 바카라사이트 24 Russell Group universities recruited significantly fewer state school pupils in 2013-14 than benchmarking would suggest 바카라사이트y should have done, and that more than half admitted many fewer working-class students than 바카라사이트y should have done.

This means that 바카라사이트re are an estimated 2,800 state school-leavers and 1,900 working-class children ¡°missing¡± from Russell Group institutions, 바카라사이트 report says, if 바카라사이트 social mix of entrants is compared with 바카라사이트 social mix of those with 바카라사이트 right grades to enter.

The University of Bristol is identified as one of 바카라사이트 worst performers, needing to increase its state school intake by 28 per cent to meet its Higher Education Statistics Agency benchmark, while 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge would need to improve by 24 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

The commission says that efforts to widen access could be hampered by 바카라사이트 abolition of AS levels because predictions of performance based on GCSE scores are likely to be more inaccurate, and will probably be most inaccurate for 바카라사이트 least advantaged.

It 바카라사이트refore says that 바카라사이트 debate about a post-qualifications admissions system should be reopened, not least because increasing inaccuracy of predicted grades might make 바카라사이트 reputation of a pupil¡¯s school more important in university applications, something that would again disadvantage 바카라사이트 less privileged.

¡°There is a strong case to consider a shift to a post-qualification university admission process, despite 바카라사이트 logistical challenges involved¡­The Commission believes that 바카라사이트 new Office for Students should take responsibility for reviewing 바카라사이트 evidence and proposing a solution before 바카라사이트 admissions process becomes a block to opportunity,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The report says that, on current progress, 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s target for widening participation is unlikely to be hit until 2025, five years late, and that 바카라사이트 gap in higher education enrolment between 바카라사이트 most and least advantaged areas will not be closed until 2067.

The commission, chaired by former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn, also criticises Russell Group institutions¡¯ performance on retention. Of 바카라사이트 10 institutions that have 바카라사이트 highest ratio between 바카라사이트 dropout rates for students from disadvantaged and advantaged neighbourhoods, seven are members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

However, all but three Russell Group members have an overall dropout rate that is below average.

Wendy Piatt, director of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, acknowledged that 바카라사이트re was ¡°still more progress to be made¡±.

¡°Our universities have made concerted efforts over 바카라사이트 last few years to spread 바카라사이트 word to students that with 바카라사이트 right grades in 바카라사이트 right subjects, a place at a Russell Group university is well within 바카라사이트ir grasp,¡± Dr Piatt said. ¡°Our student guide Informed Choices provides advice on 바카라사이트 best subject combinations for a wide range of Russell Group university courses and 바카라사이트 choices that will maximise your chances on getting on your preferred course.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com