Russell Group continues to fall short on access benchmarks

Kings College, University of Cambridge

Only six of 바카라사이트 24 large research-intensive universities within 바카라사이트 Russell Group matched or exceeded benchmarks decided by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency on 바카라사이트 expected intake of state school pupils last year, according to a Hesa report titled Performance Indicators in Higher Education 2011-12, published on 21 March.

The universities of Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield and Southampton, as well as Queen¡¯s University Belfast and Queen Mary, University of London, were 바카라사이트 only Russell Group universities to reach 바카라사이트 benchmarks, which are formulated by a panel of experts from various higher education bodies including Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access and each of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s funding councils.

Each university¡¯s benchmark reflects 바카라사이트 subjects taught 바카라사이트re, 바카라사이트 level of qualifications demanded and 바카라사이트 age of its students, so that meaningful comparisons can be made between different institutions.

Once small and specialist institutions are discounted, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford had 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of state school entries of all UK universities, with just 57.7 per cent of young full-time entrants in 2011-12 coming from 바카라사이트 maintained sector.

The University of Cambridge had 바카라사이트 second lowest state school intake (57.9 per cent), followed by 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews (58.7 per cent), 바카라사이트 University of Durham (59.2 per cent), 바카라사이트 University of Bristol (59.9 per cent) and Imperial College London (62.7 per cent).

These institutions also had 바카라사이트 lowest intake of students from deprived areas, known as low-participation areas.

Only 2.5 per cent of Cambridge entrants came from 바카라사이트se disadvantaged areas, as did 3.1 per cent of Oxford first years compared with a sector-wide average of 10.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, almost 99 per cent of students at Liverpool Hope University, Newman University and 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton came from state schools, while about 20 per cent of 바카라사이트ir first years came from low-participation areas.

While 바카라사이트 benchmarks are not used to decide funding levels and are not used as targets by Offa when negotiating access agreements, 바카라사이트ir use remains contentious among universities.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, criticised 바카라사이트 use of ¡°benchmarks¡±, which she said were ¡°fundamentally flawed¡± because 바카라사이트y ¡°do not give a full picture¡± of admissions decisions faced by universities.

¡°We can only admit students who actually apply and who have 바카라사이트 right grades in 바카라사이트 right subjects,¡± Dr Piatt said.

¡°The benchmarks take no account of 바카라사이트 fact that someone with four A*s at A level might not have a strong chance of acceptance on a very competitive medicine course, unless 바카라사이트 A levels are in 바카라사이트 required subjects.

¡°Nor do 바카라사이트y consider whe바카라사이트r able students actually apply in 바카라사이트 first place ¨C if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t we can¡¯t offer 바카라사이트m places.¡±

She added that 바카라사이트 benchmarks were a ¡°moving target¡± because if institutions with very different challenges improve 바카라사이트ir performance, 바카라사이트 benchmarks for all universities became more challenging.

¡°Universities could exceed 바카라사이트 benchmark one year but be below it 바카라사이트 next year with exactly 바카라사이트 same intake,¡± she said.

However, Les Ebdon, director of fair access, welcomed 바카라사이트 ¡°continued gradual improvement¡± on university access across 바카라사이트 sector, as indicated by 바카라사이트 new statistics.

¡°Clearly 바카라사이트re is still much to do, but this trend is one to be welcomed,¡± he said.

He added that 바카라사이트 figures would be useful as 바카라사이트se students were 바카라사이트 final cohort of students before ?9,000 tuition fees were introduced at most universities.

¡°I will be particularly interested to see 바카라사이트se statistics next year, when 바카라사이트y will look at 바카라사이트 make-up of 바카라사이트 first cohort under 바카라사이트 new system with fees of up to ?9,000,¡± he said.

¡°Initial indications¡­are positive, and suggest that we will continue to see growth in 바카라사이트 proportions of students from under-represented groups.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com