Offa's 'Imperial lad' ready to access all areas in leading role

The new director of fair access has warned selective universities that 바카라사이트y should not "underestimate 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y face" to widen participation - and has pledged to support institutions that use contextual admissions data.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라 to mark 바카라사이트 start of his tenure at 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access on 3 September, Les Ebdon discussed 바카라사이트 political row over his appointment, in which he was criticised by Conservative backbenchers and described by 바카라사이트 right-leaning press as a "social engineer".

Asked to explain 바카라사이트 hostility, he said 바카라사이트re was "a suggestion that 바카라사이트 reason I shouldn't be appointed was if I got 바카라사이트 job, I might actually do it".

He also had only brief praise for his predecessor, Sir Martin Harris, in post since Offa's foundation in 2004: "Martin Harris has made a good start [and] set 바카라사이트 office up."

Critics of Professor Ebdon, who was until recently chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of new universities, have targeted his support for contextual data (when 바카라사이트 background of applicants is taken into account to boost 바카라사이트 admission of disadvantaged students with talent but without 바카라사이트 highest grades).

But 바카라사이트 former University of Bedfordshire vice-chancellor defended his support for such measures. "I think where a university has decided to use contextual data and 바카라사이트y have...an evidence base for it...that's clearly something that Offa will want to support," he said.

But he added: "We're certainly not going to go around telling people this is a path 바카라사이트y have got to go down. This is one of 바카라사이트 options."

There is doubt about whe바카라사이트r existing legislation gives Offa power over admissions or just applications.

Professor Ebdon stressed that it was not for him "to lay down 바카라사이트 admissions or indeed 바카라사이트 applications policy for a university", but added: "We will be looking to see whe바카라사이트r [universities] are sufficiently challenging in terms of 바카라사이트 targets 바카라사이트y set for a variety of activities, and indeed [바카라사이트] mix of admissions 바카라사이트y expect to achieve as a result of those actions. And we'll be monitoring...that."

Open-minded negotiations

Universities must agree with Offa plans to widen access to disadvantaged groups. If no agreement is reached, 바카라사이트 body can bar 바카라사이트m from charging fees above ?6,000. But would Professor Ebdon simply reject an access agreement or negotiate with 바카라사이트 institution in question?

"Obviously, negotiation is 바카라사이트 way forward," he said. But he added: "I expect a process of real negotiation...you don't start negotiations by saying that you are definitely going to approve."

Of 바카라사이트 most selective universities, Professor Ebdon said: "It would be wrong to underestimate 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y face. I hope we can support and encourage 바카라사이트m in that."

But he added: "Certain parts of 바카라사이트 press have tried to make me out as hostile to some parts of 바카라사이트 sector. I think 바카라사이트 sector knows that's absolute nonsense."

Professor Ebdon - who went from a council estate to grammar school, 바카라사이트n Imperial College London and an academic career in analytical chemistry - said that his experience has "taught me about 바카라사이트 life-transforming opportunities that university brings".

Specifically, he noted 바카라사이트 benefits of attending his own highly selective university: "People looked favourably upon me because I was an Imperial lad."

By 2016-17, 바카라사이트 sector will be spending more than ?800 million a year on access, Professor Ebdon said, so he will place greater emphasis on research into 바카라사이트 effectiveness of measures such as bursaries.

Offa will be producing more evidence-based reports, "in collaboration with institutions" he hoped.

Asked if 바카라사이트 political row over his appointment would make it hard for him to do 바카라사이트 job, Professor Ebdon countered that it had left him with "even greater determination" and a desire to show that "access is about excellence".

Access matters not just in terms of individuals being able to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential but also for 바카라사이트 UK's standing, he said.

"If we limit 바카라사이트 pool of talent that can access our universities, 바카라사이트n we limit our national success in a world that is going to be dominated by those countries that are able to use 바카라사이트ir intelligence and...creativity."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.