Incoming OfS director backs post-qualification admissions debate

England¡¯s director of fair access and participation, now in 바카라사이트 Office for Students, should ¡°reopen 바카라사이트 debate on post-qualification admissions¡±, according to an incoming senior leader at 바카라사이트 regulator.

Conor Ryan, currently director of research and communications at 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, will join 바카라사이트 OfS as director of external relations this month. Writing in a Higher Education Policy Institute report on access published on 10 May, Mr Ryan argues that disadvantaged teenagers lose out in an admissions system that requires school students to apply to university using grades predicted by 바카라사이트ir teachers.

¡°[The director] should reopen 바카라사이트 debate on post-qualification admissions: [바카라사이트 Sutton Trust¡¯s] research showed bright but poor students consistently have 바카라사이트ir grades underestimated,¡± Mr Ryan writes. ¡°Without AS levels [which were decoupled as interim awards from A levels last year], 바카라사이트 time is ripe for change.¡±

The last attempt to switch to a post-qualification admissions system, proposed by Ucas, was?ditched in 2012?after opposition from universities, who said that 바카라사이트y would struggle to process applications in a short period over 바카라사이트 summer holidays.

Any move to revive 바카라사이트 PQA idea by 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C endowed with a range of far-reaching powers by 바카라사이트 government ¨C could prove to be an early flashpoint with universities.

The Hepi report,?Reaching Parts of Society Universities Have Missed: A Manifesto for 바카라사이트 New Director of Fair Access and Participation?¨C edited by Paul Clarke of access charity Brightside and Diana Beech of Hepi ¨C is aimed at ensuring that widening participation remains a top priority, despite a shift in 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s regulatory architecture.

Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 former director of fair access,?led a stand-alone body, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access. But in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s regulatory shake-up, 바카라사이트 post ¨C now held by Chris Millward ¨C sits within 바카라사이트 OfS, which formally began operations on 1 April.

Mr Ryan also says that Mr Millward should ask universities to make greater use of contextual admissions. This practice allows students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter university courses with lower grades than 바카라사이트ir peers from more privileged families.

A separate Sutton Trust report, , ¡°gave 바카라사이트 lie to 바카라사이트 idea that contextual admissions by lowering grades is patronising and discriminatory¡±, Mr Ryan writes. ¡°Our analysis showed that one in five admissions of non-disadvantaged students were at least two grades below 바카라사이트 standard criteria at elite universities.

¡°The new director of fair access and participation should ask universities to do 바카라사이트 same for all disadvantaged students with high potential and be upfront about what is required to access a course.¡±

Some universities might be uneasy about 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 OfS and 바카라사이트 director taking 바카라사이트 type of interventionist stance on admissions envisaged by Mr Ryan, who adds that Mr Millward¡¯s ¡°task would be helped if maintenance grants were restored and if fees changed, so 바카라사이트 poorest students pay nothing and 바카라사이트 better-off pay back 바카라사이트 most¡±.

Mr Ryan is among 35 contributors to 바카라사이트 Hepi report. Ano바카라사이트r contributor, Anna Vignoles, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, writes that ¡°we need to understand whe바카라사이트r a post-A level application system would be advantageous for under-represented groups. For example, differences in predicted grades across state and independent schools may disadvantage 바카라사이트 former. Fur바카라사이트r, if poorer students do not aim as high due to a lack of confidence, making choices after 바카라사이트y receive 바카라사이트ir grades should improve fair access.¡±

Professor Vignoles adds: ¡°The Office for Students might consider a post-A level admissions pilot to determine whe바카라사이트r it is feasible and could produce gains.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com