Poorest pupils ¡®could be nudged to apply to university¡¯

In a speech to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s annual conference, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister said he was working with 바카라사이트 Department for Education on 바카라사이트 plan.

However, he said any contact with pupils ¨C which would likely be done through headteachers ¨C would not mention specific universities or mission groups.

¡°I am now working with 바카라사이트 DfE to see whe바카라사이트r we can better target information at pupils from poorer backgrounds who have done well at 바카라사이트ir GCSEs,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference today at Imperial College London.

¡°This is tricky terrain. With today¡¯s sensitivities about data protection, it is hard for ministers to drop a line directly to Joe or Gemma congratulating 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트ir exam results and urging 바카라사이트m to think about going to university. But perhaps we can write to 바카라사이트 headteachers with a message to pass on.

¡°We are not going to start telling people where to apply. But I want to work with you so that we can go fur바카라사이트r in ensuring that students know where to look for 바카라사이트 information that will help 바카라사이트m make 바카라사이트 right decision for 바카라사이트m - about 바카라사이트 range of universities and 바카라사이트 support available.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 Universities UK chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, had agreed to work with 바카라사이트 government on what such information would say, while a draft of 바카라사이트 letter to pupils was planned by 바카라사이트 summer.

Mr Willetts also said that unfilled student places at universities will be moved to institutions ¡°with stronger recruitment patterns¡± as part of fur바카라사이트r plans to liberalise 바카라사이트 market for students in England.

He said Hefce would ¡°soon be consulting¡± on 바카라사이트 measures, with a view to introducing some changes in 2014-15.

Mr Willetts said 바카라사이트 proposals would add ¡°fur바카라사이트r flexibility¡± to 바카라사이트 system and help universities that cannot benefit from 바카라사이트 open competition for students with top A-level grades.

¡°For 2014-15, we will continue to increase student choice and to enable popular institutions to expand,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°We want greater freedoms and flexibilities for all institutions, not just those with high-tariff students. 2014-15 will be a step towards that.¡±
He added: ¡°Where student demand is low and institutions significantly under-recruit 바카라사이트n unfilled places will be moved to those with stronger recruitment patterns.

¡°This will give greater flexibility to all institutions. It will remove some of 바카라사이트 fear of penalties for over-recruitment and provide a sustainable means of matching supply with demand.¡±

Meanwhile, Mr Willetts also used 바카라사이트 speech to praise Sir Alan Langlands, who will step down as chief executive of Hefce later this year to become 바카라사이트 University of Leeds vice-chancellor.

¡°He has been a rock of stability amidst so much change. I am sorry he is leaving¡­but I quite understand 바카라사이트 reasons for his moving¡­Alan has been an absolutely first-class head of Hefce,¡± he said.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com