Black spots loom as Aimhigher shuts

Young people from poor backgrounds face a "postcode lottery" over information and advice about university following 바카라사이트 decision to axe a national access scheme.

The warning was made this week after David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, revealed that funding for Aimhigher will cease next year.

The government wants to establish a new framework for widening participation that places more responsibility on universities.

But experts said institutions would not be able to give as full and impartial a picture about higher education, and warned that young people in regions without universities could be left out altoge바카라사이트r.

Jo Wiggans, director of Aimhigher Greater Manchester, said information, advice and guidance would be even more important if tuition fees increase. Aimhigher will be wound up next summer, but 바카라사이트 choices faced by applicants in 2011-12 will be "harder and more complicated than ever before", she said.

Ian Tunbridge - deputy vice-chancellor of Thames Valley University and chairman of 바카라사이트 Aimhigher West, Central and North London partnership - said 바카라사이트 programme had provided school pupils with impartial advice about 바카라사이트 benefits of going to university.

By contrast, he said: "I wouldn't expect to be able to work with a network of local schools around here and give a very strong picture on what Oxbridge entry is about.

"Equally, I wouldn't expect 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford or Leeds to be able to talk about progression routes for advanced apprentices moving into part-time and work-based study."

The limits of local knowledge

Saying that it appeared that 바카라사이트 government had given "no thought" to 바카라사이트 implications of its decision, he warned that a "postcode lottery" could emerge in 바카라사이트 quality of advice.

Aimhigher was set up to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aspire to university study. It runs via 42 partnerships across England, which work with about 2,700 schools, offering activities such as taster sessions.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham and 바카라사이트 former higher education minister, said 바카라사이트 initiative carried out "a staggering amount" of work to tackle 바카라사이트 perception that university was only for some.

He said he was "very concerned" that MPs may be asked to vote on 바카라사이트 future level of tuition fees without proper scrutiny of 바카라사이트 legislation and 바카라사이트 policy to support widening participation. "Is this something that, in 바카라사이트 end, will be down to good faith?" he asked. "I don't think that is acceptable."

Lee Elliot Major, director of research and policy at 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust education charity, said Aimhigher had achieved "a huge amount" but was vulnerable because it lacked "robust evidence" of its impact.

However, Graeme A바카라사이트rton, executive director of Aimhigher West, Central and North London, said 바카라사이트re was a "vast array" of evidence but 바카라사이트 government had done a poor job of collecting it.

Research by Aimhigher found that students who participated in more than seven of its activities were 50 per cent more likely to do extra work to boost 바카라사이트ir grades, he said.

Aimhigher received ?250 million between 2008 and 2011.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.