Access in a New Era The Changing policy landscape for WP to HE: Lessons from the Widening Participation Strategic Assessments Professor John Storan

Three Hats Continuum, Centre for Widening Participation Policy Studies – University of East London Action on Access – WP National Co-ordination Team Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE) – Practitioners Network

ResearchPractice Policy Widening Participation to HE The WP Triangle

Will this man stop your child going to a top university? The Sunday Times, February 19 th, 2012

Changing Policy Landscape & WPSAs What does the White Paper say? “We will ensure that widening participation for students of all backgrounds remains a key strategic objective for all higher education institutions. All universities will produce widening participation strategic assessments, with HEFCE and OFFA continuing to work together to ensure coherence and avoid duplication with Access Agreements” Students at the Heart of the System, BIS, 2011

Changing Policy Landscape & WPSAs What does the Grant Letter say? Emphasis on social mobility with WP and fair access as references HEFCE and OFFA to work closely and effectively together to maximise HEFCE and HEIs investment in WP The additional costs of attracting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds and disabled students, including the funding HE provides for widening participation and retention HEFCE Grant Letter

Background and Introduction WPSAs: How did we get here? January 2009: HEFCE asked HEIs and FECs with more than 100 FTE to submit WPSAs. Submission of WPSA a condition for WP allocation. WPSAs set out an institution’s overall WP strategy. WPSAs include all expenditure across the student lifecycle whatever the source. Access Agreements only include expenditure on bursaries, scholarships and additional outreach activities that started after the introduction of variable fees in 2006.

Background and Introduction WPSAs: How did we get here? Joint monitoring returns for WPSAs and Access Agreements for report, Sept 2011 Action on Access WPSA Thematic Review 2010 Each WPSA covers three academic years from Action on Access Topic Briefings 2011

Background and Introduction What information was included in the WPSA? The position of WP in institutions’ missions The organisational and managerial responsibilities for WP Institutions’ overall aims and objectives along with more detailed targets and milestones for the next three years The full range of an institution’s WP activity and the level of resource committed to WP. Source: OFFA Access agreement and widening participation strategic assessment monitoring, 2011

WPSA Monitoring Report Areas What information was provided? Report on expenditure on widening participation commitments Give an assessment of WP activity Report on the effects of the current economic climate Provide an update on their plans for evaluation of WP commitments

Headlines from the WPSA Monitoring Outcomes: 2009 – 2010 Returns What was spent and on what? Institutions are making a significant investment in WP over and above HEFCE funding. Areas for expenditure included: – Student support – WP staffing – Support for retention and student success – Expenditure to promote lifelong learning

Headlines from the WPSA Monitoring What were reported as the most successful activities? Institutions were asked to report on their three to five most successful/ significant WP activities across the student lifecycle. Category of activity % of institutions reporting this type of activity as successful/significant Involvement with Aimhigher programme 29% Summer schools 27% Academic outreach interventions pre-entry 27% (e.g. masterclasses, taster days) Pre-entry information, advice and guidance (IAG) 27% Links with secondary schools 26% Activities to improve retention and student success 26% Campus visits/open days 25% Course/curriculum development 24% Progression agreements/internal progression within institutions 24% Activities to improve employability 21%

Headlines from the WPSA Monitoring What challenges were identified for the future? Challenges ahead and effects on WP commitments in WPSA: – Uncertain HE climate (Jan 2011) – Two thirds of institutions reported the need to change their WPSA particularly in light of the new funding regime and Aimhigher closure Institutions highlighted a range of WP activities that they felt need protecting from funding cuts: – Protect links with schools – Outreach work – IAG

Headlines from the WPSA Monitoring What was the progress on evaluation? Evaluation of WPSA: – Inconsistent returns – Area where further guidance would be useful – Returns indicated that more institutions were planning future evaluation – The following measures were mentioned Participant questionnaires Tracking WP students from outreach to HE enrolment Monitoring effects of initiatives on school attainment

Social Mobility through HE Action on Access Topic Briefings Topic briefings on the thematic review of WPSAs 2009 – WPSAs provided an extensive source of data on WP from the sector.

Social Mobility through HE Action on Access Topic Briefings What briefings have been published? Topic briefings include: – Mainstreaming WP and Equality – Assessing the Impact of WP – Linking Equality and Diversity with WP – Engaging Adults – The Role of Targeting – The Role of Admissions – Promoting the Success of All Students Download briefings and full WPSA analysis from

Future Developments and Challenges Why do we need WPSAs? Accounting for WP spend Provide a strategic picture of WP Developmental opportunity Rich source of information to support policy and practice WPSAs can contribute to the public interest role of HEFCE

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