NCEE Report

In order to bolster the number of school pupils interested in attending university, a proposal has been made for higher education institutions to partner with primary schools. This proposal is featured in a report conducted by the National Council for Educational Excellence and led by Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University, in an attempt to discover hindrances to higher education participation and to further encourage university applicants.

After several accusations that schools themselves are partly responsible for the disproportionate levels between private and state school pupils attending university, they are now being asked to ensure that their guidance and advice for pupils considering university is effective. Elitism is now being seen as an obstacle for universities to overcome, making attempts to tackle it all the more important in policy.

Suggestions for achieving a more equal level of state and private school pupils attending universities have included school league tables including information on how many pupils have chosen higher education, which, it is hoped, should promote schools recommending university to students. The currently used system of making lower offers to disadvantaged students who have the potential to shine is also promoted.

As the ineffectual yet expensive programme held by the National Audit Office to encourage state school pupils to apply to university was a relative failure, the report suggests that universities link with primary schools, targeting the talented pupils who may need convincing that university could benefit them.