What is Fair Admissions?

1. Outcomes from the SPA Fair Admissions Task and Finish Group What does it mean for your institution?SPA event 19 June 2012Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lincoln and Chair of the SPA Fair Admissions Task and Finish Group

2. What is Fair Admissions? Schwartz principles for fair admissions: • be transparent • enable institutions to select students who are able to complete the course as judged by their achievements and their potential • strive to use assessment methods that are reliable and valid • seek to minimise barriers to applicants • be professional in every respect and underpinned by appropriate institutional structures and processes

3. SPA Fair Admissions Task and Finish Group • Aims • Examine if the principles are still relevant and appropriate in light of changing policies for UK HE and the timing of these changes. • Highlight the increasing divergence of these policies in each administration and the impact this has on the UK wide HE sector. • Identify issues for consideration by pre-HE and HE stakeholders • Highlight issues for further consideration by SPA to add value for the sector

4. SPA Task and Finish Group on Fair Admissions - Outcomes • The principles of fair admissions as outlined in the Schwartz Report are still relevant, important and appropriate in the changing UK HE admissions landscape. • Senior managers, policymakers and admissions practitioners should be committed to upholding and delivering the principles of fair admissions • The fair admissions principles support the interests of bothapplicants and of universities and colleges.

5. Outcomes of the Fair Admissions Task and Finish Group • Principles of fair admissions apply to all types of applicants (full and part time; undergraduate and postgraduate; home, EU and international; young and mature etc) and all parts of the UK. • Important that effective messages communicated to all HE admissions stakeholders: staff in HEIs, BIS, funders, UCAS, pre-HE etc. in relation to the scale of the current changes impacting admissions • A more detailed report will be produced for those championing fair admissions within their own institution.

6. Five challenges affecting fair admissions 2012 and beyond • Student number controls result in internal target changes, external funding changes – how to advise to applicants? • In-cycle changes that providers have to respond and adapt to and make transparent. • Balancing the desire and need for widening access (in line with requirements of funding council/ OFFA and institutional agreements) with strict student number controls. • Communicating the increased complexity of entry criteria and decision making for admission to HE and the “offer package”. • Unintentional unfair admissions based on inconsistent assessment of domicile of applicant/ student.

7. Countries in UK: Differences in SNC and Fees 2012-13 • Scottish/EU count for SNC • Rest of UK exempt • Fees: Free for Scottish/EU students • up to £9,000 for rest of UK • SCOTLAND • Scottish/EU count for SNC • Rest of UK exempt • Fees: Free for Scottish/EU students • up to £9,000 for rest of UK • ENGLAND • All UK/EU count for SNC • AAB+ or equivalent exempt • Reduced core SNCs • Biddable margin (20,000) • Small specialist Arts/ performing institutions can opt-out • Fees: all UK/EU up to £9,000 • NI/EU count for SNC • Rest of UK exempt • Fees: Variable fee £1,380 to £3,465 for NI/EU • up to £9,000 for rest of UK • NORTHERN IRELAND • NI/EU count for SNC • Rest of UK exempt • Fees: Variable fee £1,380 to £3,465 for NI/EU • up to £9,000 for rest of UK • All UK/EU count for SNC • AAB+ or equivalent exempt • Reduced core SNCs • Biddable margin (20,000) • Small specialist Arts/ performing institutions can opt-out • Fees: all UK/EU up to £9,000 • WALES • All UK/EU count for SNC • Fees: all UK/EU up to £9,000 • All UK/EU count for SNC • Fees: all UK/EU up to £9,000 For cross border support for FT and PT undergraduate students see table at www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/POLICYANDRESEARCH/POLICYAREAS/FUNDING-AND-MANAGEMENT/

8. So what does fair admissions mean now for your institution? • Major changes for 2012 entry introduced during the admissions cycle, institutions, of necessity, have adapted rapidly, but much uncertainty • Increased complexity and lack of transparency this year – schools and colleges awareness of the issues for HEIs only now developing • Offer making – some HEIs had two home targets: • eg AAB+ and the rest (SNC); or R-UK and Scottish/EU • not an exact ‘science’, maybe interesting changed patterns in firm and insurance choices by applicants • Confirmation, Adjustment and Clearing- HEIs may take longer to assess numbers against each target? More use of adjustment? More deferrals?

9. So what does fair admissions mean now for your institution? 2012 entry likely to be most uncertain and challenging year for many years for HEIs 2013 will see more changes – ABB+ rather than AAB+ and maybe changes to SNC in Scotland How will the changes which are likely to impact the staffing, structure, strategy, reputation and culture of your HEI play out for fair admissions? HEIs - position themselves in new competitive market place while enhancing access for disadvantaged students - looking for efficiencies and new USPs for quality of offering and service

10. So what does fair admissions mean now for your institution? SPA will support the sector in the challenges they face in admissions for 2012 and the next few years, SPAs evidence based practice and independence enables it to be uniquely placed to support HEIs. QAA Quality Code – admissions section will be reviewed and issued in 2013 The Task and Finish group recommended that major HE sector led review of fair admissions proposed across the UK in 2013, to tie in with the review of the QAA quality code UCAS will be introducing changes to its processes and procedures to support HEIs Use your own resources, legal team, quality assurance teams, stats and planning to full effect.

11. Thank youenquiries@spa.ac.uk or 01242 544891www.spa.ac.uk