TO BE PUBLISHED February 2022
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will consider priorities for the admissions system in light of the recent confirmation of the Government’s intentions to move forward as soon as possible with admissions reform, as well as further developments, including:
- the recent Government consultation on a move to a post-qualification admissions (PQA) system, with the Government expected to formally respond in due course
- the publication of the UCAS report, Reimagining UK Admissions, which advocated a move to a post-qualification offer (PQO) system
- the admissions reviews led by the OfS and UUK
This will also be an opportunity for delegates to assess the impact of COVID-19 on university admissions in light of the OfS ban on ‘conditional unconditional’ offers and research from UCL that found predicting A-Level grades to be a ‘near-impossible task’ likely to harm high achievers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This conference will consider these developments and their effect on students, as well as what they might mean for future university admissions systems and lessons that can be learned from best practice.
The discussion will also assess wider areas of potential for admissions reform and how to ensure broader student groups are also considered, taking into account priorities for mature and international students.
The agenda is structured to bring out latest thinking on:
- the Government’s priorities for admissions reform
- the challenges presented by PQA models and how best to overcome them
- supporting and empowering all students throughout reform
- making sure reform is UK-wide and takes into account priorities for devolved nations
Attendees
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from the Department for Education; the Department for the Economy, NI; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from AQA; British Council; Cambridge Assessment; Edge Hill University; Kaplan International Pathways; National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals; OCR; Robert Gordon University; Staffordshire University; Tribal Education; University of Leeds; University of St Andrews; University of Stirling; and Watford Grammar School for Girls.
Overall, we expect speakers and other delegates to be an informed group comprised of Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior officials from BEIS, DfE and other Government departments and agencies, university and college leaders; academics and other higher education professionals; representatives from students’ unions; businesses and their advisors; mental health charities; law firms; consultancies; advice groups; interest groups and the voluntary sector; along with commentators and reporters from the national and trade media.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
