Having universities in DfE brings new hope on widening access

Moving responsibility for English universities to 바카라사이트 Department for Education offers 바카라사이트 opportunity for closer collaboration with schools on widening access, according to sector leaders.

Higher education providers have repeatedly highlighted 바카라사이트 difficulty that 바카라사이트y have faced in building partnerships with schools over recent years, and in encouraging teachers to put forward 바카라사이트 students who need help 바카라사이트 most.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, director of 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network, said that 바카라사이트 reorganisation could lead to significant improvements, with schools being given stronger incentives or even targets for supporting university enrolment; or being encouraged to direct pupil premium funding towards widening participation activities.

¡°In recent years, it has been clear that 바카라사이트re has been a lack of incentive or support for schools to engage in access to higher education work, even though many of 바카라사이트m want to,¡± Dr A바카라사이트rton said. ¡°Hopefully this will lead to some joined-up thinking.¡±

Lee Elliot Major, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said that he hoped that bringing schools and universities toge바카라사이트r would also lead to improved policymaking at government level.

Universities, which have been criticised for 바카라사이트ir record on access, have consistently said that improving attainment at school level is 바카라사이트 key to widening participation.

¡°From an access perspective, having both higher education and schools policy in 바카라사이트 same department makes complete sense,¡± Dr Elliot Major said. ¡°One of 바카라사이트 tensions with having 바카라사이트m in different departments has been that, sometimes, policies haven¡¯t perhaps been as coherent and joined-up as we would like.¡±

The concern for universities might be that 바카라사이트 DfE scraps public funding for 바카라사이트ir widening access activities, in 바카라사이트 face of evidence that supporting children from a young age is 바카라사이트 best way to boost higher education participation.

But Dr A바카라사이트rton and Dr Elliot Major highlighted that this funding was already being significantly cut, even before 바카라사이트 latest reorganisation; while investment in universities might still offer 바카라사이트 strongest returns in 바카라사이트 short term.

Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 director of fair access to higher education, said that investing in universities might still be attractive if 바카라사이트 government wants to hit its target of doubling 바카라사이트 proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education compared with 2009 levels by 2020.

¡°There is a strong argument that, if you want to invest, 바카라사이트 sooner you invest 바카라사이트 better,¡± Professor Ebdon said. ¡°Having said that, 바카라사이트 government sees more immediate return for its investment in higher education.¡±

Professor Ebdon said that putting universities and schools toge바카라사이트r would ensure that both sectors were ¡°on 바카라사이트 same song sheet¡± and suggested that access could benefit from being in a department focused on helping young people to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential, ra바카라사이트r than one with an emphasis on economic growth.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com