Denham sets out new measures to unlock the talent of England's young people

08 April 2008

Creating a transparent and open admissions process is one of a range of new measures which will be announced by John Denham in a speech on widening participation at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) annual conference today.

The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills restated his commitment to enabling more young people to go to University, moving towards a 50 per cent participation rate for 18 - 30 year olds.

Addressing the HEFCE annual conference, Denham announced developments in the Government's drive to widen participation. He argued that these, in combination with recent policies, amount to a major way forward on widening participation to university.

He announced measures to secure further public confidence in admissions processes. Universities will have to have a published admissions policy, with each institution being able to show that they have measures in hand to equip all those involved in admissions to implement the policy accurately and fairly.

Mr Denham has asked David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE and Sir Martin Harris, Director of Fair Access to look at how each university could adopt their own open and accountable admissions system.

Further measures to unlock the talents of all young people outlined in his speech include:

• Working with DCFS to improve information and guidance (IAG) offered to pupils to help them make more informed decisions on education and career paths at an early age;
• Universities working more directly with schools and colleges to improve access to Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, especially supporting those schools which currently do not offer triple science; and
• A commitment to do further work into how best to support part-time students and separate work looking at the progression from further education to university.

On winning public confidence through transparent admissions, Mr Denham said:

"There is much debate in the media about admissions. On the one hand, universities that try to take a student's individual background, the challenges they have faced, into account, are liable to be accused of political correctness and social engineering.

"On the other, there are people prepared to take the fact of a disproportionate number of students from more privileged backgrounds at a particular university as prima facie evidence of snobbery and social bias on the part of admissions staff.

"Much of this speech today has been designed to cut through both simplistic criticisms: to identify what universities can and cannot be expected to do.

"But the public debate continues, and while there is no evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with most admissions, ultimately the debate is corrosive of public confidence in the system. Ultimately it feeds the view that 'my child is going to lose out no matter how hard they work' - whether that child comes from a disadvantaged background, or a privileged one.

"So I think we have to look for confidence building measures; measures that will reassure the public; but measures too which are based on the fundamental principle that universities decide whom they should admit.

"The answer lies, surely, as it so often does in openness, transparency and accountability.

"It lies in each university having a published admissions policy; in each university being able to show that it has measures in hand to equip all those involved in admissions to implement the policy accurately and fairly; and in each university being able to assure itself that this is being done.

"So, I have asked David Eastwood and Martin Harris to look at how each university could adopt their own open and accountable admissions system.

"In those discussions, David and Martin have suggested - and I've agreed - that the time is right to bring together HEIs widening participation and fair access policies, including transparent admissions system, into a single document.

"Some universities are already taking steps to publicise their admissions processes and policies."

On structural links with schools, Mr Denham said:

"The emerging consensus is that it is the consistency of the relationship between the university, the school, the teachers and the students really makes the difference.

"That's not surprising if we remember that the aim of the exercise is not just to touch the lives of a handful of students from time to time, but to ensure that schools themselves are better equipped to spot and nurture talent and that universities understand better the students available to them.

"This is one reason why we've given such encouragement to structural links between universities and schools. Last autumn, Andrew Adonis and I launched a prospectus university involvement with academies and trusts."

In looking for resources, Mr Denham echoed what Sir Martin Harris, Director of Fair Access has previously said about bursary funds:

" Of course the first priority is to ensure that everyone receives the money to which they are entitled. Government has a role here too, to encourage young people not to tick the confidentiality box on their student loan that prevents universities from approaching them about entitlement.

"But Martin has also said he believes the greatest benefit will come to universities from radical engagement in transforming schools, and that this approach will pay dividends for universities as a whole. He has also said - and I welcome this - that he believes every university should consider directing a larger proportion of its outreach funding to hands-on engagement with schools, and that OFFA will look warmly on institutions which decide to invest more of their outreach and access funding in this way."

The changes build on initiatives that have already been introduced, including:

• Launching a joint prospectus to support universities forming long term structural links with schools by becoming part of a school trust or by sponsoring academies. These partnerships will help to drive up standards, raise the aspirations of parents, children and teachers and support young people applying to university;
• The new Aimhigher Associates scheme he launched on Friday, which will see over 5000 university students mentoring over 21 thousand young people from age 14 to 18 to raise their aspirations and support them in applying to university;
• These measures follow on from the announcement last year. From the next academic year the government will provide grants to more young people than ever before. One third of eligible students will receive a full grant of up to £2,835, and a further third will receive a partial grant; and
• In addition, all 16 year olds receiving an Educational Maintenance Allowance will receive a guarantee of the amount of support they would get if they went to university.

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Notes to Editors