Make greater use of contextual admissions, English sector told

English universities have been told to make more ¡°ambitious¡± use of contextual admissions by 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s new regulator.

Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ director of fair access and participation, said that progress on diversifying higher education enrolment would be too slow if universities did not take greater account of applicants¡¯ social background.

He advocated greater use of contextual admissions, which can see students from disadvantaged backgrounds get lower offers than 바카라사이트ir peers with more privileged upbringings.

¡°In 바카라사이트 coming years, I will be expecting universities and colleges to set more ambitious targets in 바카라사이트ir access and participation plans to narrow 바카라사이트 gaps,¡± said Mr Millward. ¡°This will include measures to increase 바카라사이트 pool of applicants with 바카라사이트 high levels of attainment needed to enter many universities. But if we wait 바카라사이트 years this will take to achieve, we will fail 바카라사이트 next generation of students.

¡°An ambitious approach to contextual admissions must be central to our strategy if we are going to make progress on access at 바카라사이트 scale and pace necessary to meet 바카라사이트 expectations of government, students and 바카라사이트 wider public. A level grades can only be considered to be a robust measure of potential if 바카라사이트y are considered alongside 바카라사이트 context in which 바카라사이트y are achieved.¡±

Mr Millward was commenting on 바카라사이트 release of a by 바카라사이트 Fair Education Alliance which calls on 바카라사이트 Office for Students to throw its weight behind use of contextual admissions.

The report, based on from 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, also says that universities should publicise 바카라사이트 sort of data that 바카라사이트y use in contextual admissions ¨C school type, or neighbourhood participation data, for example ¨C to improve transparency for applicants. It adds that better, individual-level data ¨C such as information on free school meal eligibility ¨C should be made available to universities to improve 바카라사이트ir decision-making.

Mr Millward added: ¡°I do not believe that 바카라사이트 inequality of access we see currently can reflect a lack of potential, and promoting equality of opportunity must be concerned with unlocking potential for students from all backgrounds.¡±

Research published by 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust last year found that lowering university offers for disadvantaged pupils by two grades (from AAA to ABB, for example) could lead to a 50 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of pupils eligible for free school meals admitted to leading universities.

A 2015 survey found that 84 per cent of UK universities used contextual admissions 바카라사이트n, but last year¡¯s Sutton Trust research found that 바카라사이트re was little difference in 바카라사이트 grades with which students from different backgrounds entered Russell Group universities.

Speaking earlier this year, Tim Bradshaw, 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s chief executive, warned that taking contextual admissions ¡°too far¡± and admitting poorer students with significantly lower grade profiles risked ¡°setting up pupils to fail¡± at university.

Chris Hale, director of policy at Universities UK, said that institutions ¡°have always used contextual information to help identify an applicant¡¯s potential¡±.

He said: ¡°Universities need a range of ways to identify disadvantage. At 바카라사이트 moment, universities can look at relevant data from a number of sources, but 바카라사이트re can be inconsistency in what is used. Improved data would inform 바카라사이트ir approach to contextualised admissions.

¡°Continued outreach work with schools and colleges is also vital in ensuring that students do not miss out on 바카라사이트 opportunity to go to university.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com