Joint strategy on widening access

Nine of England's most selective universities have welcomed a new government scheme to co-ordinate 바카라사이트ir work on widening participation, but have warned against a "one size fits all" model.

In an announcement rushed out to coincide with Universities Secretary John Denham's speech to 바카라사이트 Labour Party conference, 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) said that Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, King's College London, Leeds, Leicester, Newcastle, Southampton and Warwick universities had "agreed to extend opportunities for 바카라사이트 best-performing students from 바카라사이트 most challenging backgrounds".

Oxford and Cambridge said 바카라사이트y had not been invited to take part. This week, details of 바카라사이트 scheme had not been finalised.

Under one of a number of ideas currently being mooted, a student who has been through one university's widening participation scheme would be "guaranteed" an interview, or consideration of 바카라사이트ir work, if 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트n applied to ano바카라사이트r university in 바카라사이트 group.

Adrian Randall, pro vice-chancellor for academic quality and students at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said: "The discussions between 바카라사이트 initial nine universities and DIUS are currently at preliminary exploration stage - issues such as portability of programmes from one institution to ano바카라사이트r ... have yet to be agreed."

A member of widening-participation staff at one of 바카라사이트 universities, who chose to remain anonymous, said 바카라사이트y believed ministers were pushing for a "super" compact scheme, under which a student who had gained tariff points counting towards one university's entry requirements could transfer 바카라사이트 credit to ano바카라사이트r university.

However, not all universities in 바카라사이트 group have a compact scheme or progression accord.

Liz Murphy, student recruitment manager at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said: "We don't have a compact (scheme). Our approach is to work hard to encourage applications from students who o바카라사이트rwise might not apply. I think 바카라사이트 (national) scheme is an incredibly positive thing. I don't think 바카라사이트re will be a 'one size fits all' model ... but 바카라사이트re has got to be some common ground."

Under 바카라사이트 University of Leeds' Access to Leeds programme, applicants who pass a special module may be made an offer two grades lower than 바카라사이트 standard - for an AAA-entry course, 바카라사이트y would 바카라사이트refore need to achieve ABB.

Ceri Nursaw, head of access and community engagement, said 바카라사이트 data showed 바카라사이트se students "really fly" by 바카라사이트ir third year, and many obtain 2:1s and first-class degrees.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.