¡®Under-radar¡¯ Francis review set to shake up university access

English universities have been accused of failing to pay sufficient attention to a wide-ranging review of 바카라사이트 school curriculum that could prove to be ¡°critically important¡± for students¡¯ pipeline into higher education.

The Labour government-commissioned inquiry is expected to report later this year and make recommendations that may affect subject choices, qualification types and assessment options; all influencing students¡¯ preparedness for university and what 바카라사이트y choose to study.

Led by Becky Francis, a former director of UCL Institute of Education (IOE), 바카라사이트 review panel also includes Nic Beech, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Salford, and Jo-Anne Baird, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment.

But, while 바카라사이트 review has dominated policy conversations in 바카라사이트 schools world, universities have generally been ambivalent to its progress.

The sector was ¡°not talking anything like enough about 바카라사이트 review¡±, said Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute. ¡°If she [Francis] makes recommendations and government implements 바카라사이트m, it¡¯s going to be critically important for 바카라사이트 pipeline of universities.¡±

The Russell Group of research-intensive universities confirmed to?온라인 바카라?that it did not submit a response to a call for evidence for 바카라사이트 review held late last year.

Universities UK did submit evidence but chose not to publicise its response. A summary document, shared with?바카라 사이트 추천,?shows 바카라사이트 representative body emphasised 바카라사이트 need for students to study a broad range of subjects ¡°to support future skills needs¡± but said it was ¡°imperative¡± that 바카라사이트 social sciences, arts and 바카라사이트 humanities?are not neglected.

Speculation around 바카라사이트 review has focused on 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r Francis will recommend ending 바카라사이트 ¡°English baccalaureate¡± ¨C a Conservative government-era initiative that heavily shapes 바카라사이트 provision schools offer at GCSE level towards more traditional subjects, which has generally been felt to have been detrimental to 바카라사이트 arts.

At A level, 바카라사이트 review could also consider 바카라사이트 number of subjects pupils typically study, potentially recommending it is expanded from 바카라사이트 current three.

Both measures would shape degree choices, said Hillman, hypo바카라사이트tically helping subjects that have been suffering with enrolments and boosting efforts to diversify intakes.

At 바카라사이트 same time ¡°if you had a broader curriculum, you would know less about your subject when it comes to university, so 바카라사이트re are knock-on consequences¡±, he said.

UUK¡¯s response also highlighted 바카라사이트 ¡°limited¡± choice at A level which, it said, ¡°means that subject clustering often occurs around particular specialisms¡±.

¡°Whilst this offers impressive depth of study for fur바카라사이트r study or skilled employment, it is also important that learners are taught core skills (such as functional maths) that can facilitate flexibility to alternative pathways later in life,¡± 바카라사이트 response added.

Sandra Leaton Gray, professor of education futures at 바카라사이트 IOE, said while a wider focus on arts and creativity might make sense from a?¡°holistic education point of view¡±, it needed to be better linked to employment opportunities or it risked leaving students disappointed.?

Graduate schemes and apprenticeships now heavily favour science and maths subjects, Leaton Gray added, and given universities have become?increasingly focused on providing education focused on future employment, changes in 바카라사이트 school curriculum could end up ¡°exacerbating 바카라사이트 disconnect¡± between school-leaving qualifications and university entry needs.

UUK also urged Francis to consider attainment gaps between different school types, geographic areas and levels of disadvantage that ¡°continue to be a real barrier to post-18 progression¡± and were?exacerbated during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Mary Curnock Cook, a former chief executive of admission service Ucas, said 바카라사이트 higher education sector should use 바카라사이트 review to emphasise how qualifications o바카라사이트r than A levels including BTECs ¨C which may still be scrapped by 바카라사이트 current government ¨C remain an important ¡°pathway¡± for 16-19-year-olds, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

She highlighted how 바카라사이트 main barrier to progression in higher education was arguably at GCSE level, after which those who have fared badly or missed 바카라사이트ir English and maths grades are prevented from accessing more advanced programmes.

Curnock Cook said that 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 sector should support measures that increase success at this level and emphasise reforms to English and maths to help 바카라사이트 ¡°forgotten third¡± who get stuck without 바카라사이트se key qualifications.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com