Fair admissions to higher education: recommendations for good practice

This is the report of an independent review by Steven Schwartz of the options that English higher education institutions should consider when assessing the merit of applicants for their courses, and to report on the high-level principles underlying these options. It includes recommendations by the Admissions to Higher Education Steering Group that all universities and colleges should adopt as high-level principles of fair admissions. The review was concerned with the following questions: How should higher education (HE) students be chosen? Are examination scores the only relevant indicators of undergraduate success or should universities and colleges also consider other factors, such as educational context and broader achievements and skills? How can we support admissions staff in their role? To what extent can we offer guidance on assessment methods? What information do applicants need to make informed choices and what feedback, if any, should unsuccessful applicants receive? This report attempts to answer these questions while at the same time elucidating the principles and processes that constitute a fair admissions process. The report contains: Executive summary; Section A: Background; Section B: What are the issues?; Section C: A fair admissions system; Section D: Principles underpinning fair admissions and guidelines for implementation; Section E: Recommendations requiring co-ordination across the education system; Section F: Options for assessing merit; Section G: Reviewing progress towards fair admissions; Section H: Pratical implications of the recommendations. Show less