1. Developing a Scottish Toolkit for Fair Access
Lindsey Bowes, Research Director
Rachel Moreton, Associate Director
28th February 2019

2. About CFE Research
An independent not-for-profit company specialising in research and evaluation in the fields of education, the economy and wellbeing.

3. Track record in widening access

4. I want us to determine now that a child born today in one of our most deprived communities will, by the time he or she leaves school, have the same chance of going to university as a child born in one of our least deprived communities.
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, November 2014
Photo: Scottish Government CC BY-NC

5. …the Commissioner for Fair Access, working with experts, should publish a Framework for Fair Access. This authoritative, evidence based framework should identify the most impactful forms of access activity at each stage of the learner journey… and provide best practice guidelines on its delivery and evaluation.
Final report of the Commission on Widening Access, 2016

6. Two broad aims:
Provide an accessible summary of the evidence of impact for different interventions to allow practitioners and funders to select those that are most appropriate
Provide guidance on selecting and implementing evaluation methods for practitioners

7. A template for the Toolkit

8. A template for the Toolkit

9. Our approach Rapid review of evidence on selected interventions
Focus, where possible on socio-economic disadvantage, care experience and protected characteristics
Assess impact, cost, volume and credibility of evidence

12. Launch of the toolkit Toolkit will be launched in May 2019
Access: articulation, attainment support, summer schools, mentoring, information about HE
Retention and progression: staff and peer mentoring, extended induction, bursaries, attainment support, internships
Signposting to guidance and toolkits to enhance evaluation of interventions
Updates planned for 2019 and 2020

13. Challenges
Lack of robust, UK-based evidence – majority of ‘type 3’ set in a North American context
Disaggregating impact of individual interventions – most interventions are delivered as part of a programme or package of support.
Tracking and measurement of longer-term impacts – controlling for wider personal, situational and external factors
Impact on what? – interventions often seek to achieve multiple outcomes and there is a lack of consistency in the outcomes measured

14. Key contacts
Further information: scottish-toolkit-for-fair-access