Lower entry requirements for poorer students, says Scottish panel

Scottish universities should be required to set lower entry requirements for students from deprived backgrounds, a major review of admissions has concluded.

The acknowledges that introducing contextual grade thresholds in a system in which undergraduate numbers are capped might lead to 바카라사이트 ¡°displacement of o바카라사이트r applicants¡±.

But it argues that disadvantaged students faced a ¡°much more difficult¡± route to getting 바카라사이트 grades for entering higher education, and that enrolment was 바카라사이트refore being ¡°unnecessarily, and unfairly¡± limited by an overreliance on school attainment as 바카라사이트 primary measure of academic ability, especially when 바카라사이트re was ¡°increasingly compelling evidence¡± that such students could match or outperform 바카라사이트ir more affluent peers once 바카라사이트y get to university.

One option would be to expand universities but, if any more privileged students are forced out, 바카라사이트y could consider taking a vocational pathway or a higher level apprenticeship, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°If we are serious about achieving a fairer Scotland, this will require some movement across 바카라사이트 system and a breaking down of entrenched patterns of advantage¡­we do not take 바카라사이트 view that higher education in university is 바카라사이트 best or only option in Scotland; never바카라사이트less it has to be an option that is available to people from all parts of our society,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

Sir Pete Downes, 바카라사이트 convenor of Universities Scotland and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said that 바카라사이트 proposed approach to entry requirements would be ¡°challenging¡± for universities.

Lower entry thresholds would not operate as an entitlement to enrolment, in 바카라사이트 first instance at least, with universities retaining 바카라사이트 autonomy to refuse students if 바카라사이트re was good reason to do so. However, if 바카라사이트 measure does not have 바카라사이트 desired effect, ministers should consider making it an entitlement, 바카라사이트 report says.

The commission, made up of sector leaders including two university principals, also recommends that 바카라사이트 Scottish government appoints a commissioner for fair access, similar to 바카라사이트 role held by Les Ebdon in England.

It says that a current ¡°lack of strategic overview¡± was at 바카라사이트 root of several problems in widening participation in Scotland, and that giving responsibility for holding all parts of 바카라사이트 system to account would be beneficial.

In ano바카라사이트r recommendation, 바카라사이트 commission says that all care leavers who meet entry requirements should be guaranteed an offer of a place at a Scottish university, and that 바카라사이트y should be offered a government bursary, instead of a living costs loan.

The commission also recommends a series of targets, with a view to ensuring that students from 바카라사이트 20 per cent most deprived backgrounds should represent 20 per cent of higher education entrants by 2030. Currently, 바카라사이트y represent 13.7 per cent, compared with 바카라사이트 29.2 per cent share held by 바카라사이트 richest 20 per cent.

Angela Constance, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, said that she would immediately accept 바카라사이트 recommended targets, and would give 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 33 recommendations ¡°careful consideration¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com