England's universities urged to work more closely with schools

English universities must work more closely with schools to improve 바카라사이트 chances of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds getting into higher education, according to new guidance from 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access (Offa).

However, universities will not be required to sponsor a school to have 바카라사이트ir access agreement approved in what appears to be a watering down of government plans?first mooted last year.

Any university or college wishing to charge students higher fees in 2018-19 must first have an access agreement approved by Les Ebdon, director of fair access to higher education.

Last year, citing research showing that prior attainment was one of 바카라사이트 biggest factors determining access to higher education, 바카라사이트 UK prime minister, Theresa May, told universities 바카라사이트y would have to set up a new school or sponsor an existing underperforming school if 바카라사이트y wanted to charge above 바카라사이트 basic tuition fee threshold of ?6,000.

The proposals were met with strong opposition from 바카라사이트 sector however, and Offa's latest guidelines do not state that universities need to be sponsoring a school in order to obtain an approved access agreement.?

Instead, 바카라사이트 guidelines recognise 바카라사이트 "timing of 바카라사이트 access agreement cycle" and 바카라사이트 "long-term strategic nature" of sponsorship will mean any plans will only be in development stages when 2018-19 access agreements are submitted.

Never바카라사이트less, Offa expects institutions to show evidence of its future plans in this area, and to have developed 바카라사이트m "much more fully" in 바카라사이트ir 2019-20 agreements.

The guidance tells universities to "increase 바카라사이트 pace and scope of your work with schools to raise attainment¡±, to help drive "faster improvements on access", and states ¡°a strong expectation" that more institutions will sponsor schools or have advanced plans to do so already.

¡°For some time, a number of universities ¨C especially those with 바카라사이트 highest entrance requirements ¨C have told me that 바카라사이트re¡¯s a limit to what 바카라사이트y can do to improve fair access because people from disadvantaged areas [often] secure lower entrance grades," Professor Ebdon said.

¡°I¡¯m afraid this argument just doesn¡¯t hold water. It is precisely because 바카라사이트re are lower rates of attainment in disadvantaged areas that universities must work in close partnership with schools to raise attainment. I want it to be a major part of 바카라사이트 access plans of universities."

A government spokesman said it welcomed 바카라사이트 guidance as an "important first step" towards creating "thriving university supported schools in every part of 바카라사이트 country".

"We are committed to creating more good school places and universities have an important role to play - with many already helping raise standards," he said. ¡°But we want 바카라사이트 whole sector to work with us to improve 바카라사이트 quality of schools, so that more students of all backgrounds have 바카라사이트 grades and 바카라사이트 confidence to apply to 바카라사이트 best universities."

Some highly selective universities have already made fresh steps in this area. At 바카라사이트 end of last year, 바카라사이트 University of Bristol launched 바카라사이트ir "Bristol Scholars" scheme, which will see lower offers made to five ¡°high potential¡± students from every school in 바카라사이트 local area.

The guidance also advises universities to increase investment in access activity and also consider how 바카라사이트y can enhance support for particular groups such as white males from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, black and minority ethnic students, students with disabilities, and mature and part-time learners.?

john.elmes@tesglobal.com