UK: Three steps to help improve university access

It was good to see widening participation in higher education as a theme of the political conference season this year, comments Keven Whitston, of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, in The Guardian. The issue still generates controversy, but few dispute the need to widen participation, and most believe that this must start early, be sustained, and integrated with learners' experience in schools and colleges.

Ten years ago, widening participation centred on projects and one-off interventions, and focused strongly on the choices made at 17 or 18. Now, the report from the National Council for Educational Excellence calls for more work with primary schools and better advice and guidance for the whole school population; Aimhigher is developing a long-term, integrated progression framework, and universities are linking more closely with schools. It is time widening participation moved into the mainstream.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) has three priorities for the coming year.
Full report on The Guardian site