Universities must strengthen links with schools

A report recommending increasing links between universities and schools has received backing from Universities UK.

The report - from The National Council for Educational Excellence (NCEE) - recommends improving support for schools in raising student aspirations to apply to university and improving the information advice and guidance on offer.

Universities, under the chairmanship of Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and Vice-President of Universities UK, were invited (alongside business, schools and the voluntary sector) to explore the part higher education can play in developing a world-class education system for children and young people up to the age of 19.

Professor Rick Trainor, President of Universities UK, said: "Universities UK provided evidence from every English university of the way in which each works with schools to raise awareness of higher education, identify potential in students and improve attainment in schools. Much of this work is carried out through the invaluable Aimhigher network, which receives funding from Government.

"We welcome the report's emphasis on raising aspirations and attainment and on the need to offer appropriate advice and guidance about higher education at schools. It is clear that significant improvements are needed in the consistency and quality of the information and guidance currently on offer. We welcome, in particular, the recommendation that all secondary schools should appoint a senior member of staff to provide specialist and up-to-date advice and information to young people about applying to university.

"If we are to continue to widen access from under-represented groups, it is also vital that we increase the staying-on rates in school beyond the school leaving age. In the UK the participation rate of 17-year-olds in education is one of the lowest of any OECD country - and evidence suggests that it is the students from lower socio-economic backgrounds that are leaving education earlier.

“Universities make strenuous efforts to seek out potential by looking at a number of factors when selecting students, but, as we’ve said consistently, they cannot admit people who are not applying to university.”

Responding to the final recommendation, relating to the introduction of a new A* grade, Professor Trainor added: “Universities UK has previously expressed its concern about the lack of evidence upon which to assess whether the new A* can be predicted accurately. We support the recommendation therefore that Government should collect and review data on predictability over the first few years of the A* being awarded before it is used by universities in the applications process.”

A working group – called the Ambassador Group – has been set up to take forward the implementation of the higher education strand of the NCEE project. This will also be chaired by Professor Steve Smith.