University admissions
Tuesday, 08 Apr 2008 13:00
Renewed efforts on improving university admissions are attracting criticism of the government's limited success in broadening access to higher education.
Innovation, universities and skills secretary John Denham has outlined ways in which scrutiny of universities' admissions processes should be strengthened in a speech at the University of Warwick.
Mr Denham wants more "transparent" admissions policies and is prepared to consider strengthened monitoring powers for the Office of Fair Access, as well as closer links between universities and schools and guidance for primary school pupils.
The move comes as the government edges closer to failing in its goal of raising university participation to half of all young people by 2010.
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) released figures last month showing the proportion of those aged between 17 and 30 in higher education rose from 39.2 per cent in 1999/2000 to 39.8 per cent in 2006/07.
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