The Costs of Widening Participation: Contradictions in New Labour's Student Funding Policies

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Callender
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
New Labour ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Widening Access ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
Student Funding

Increasing and widening participation have been at the heart of New Labour's higher education initiatives since they came to power. This article argues that their 1998 reforms of student financial support were inconsistent with their commitment to widening access and fairness in educational opportunities, and their desire for higher education to contribute to greater social cohesion. The article examines this policy contradiction. It explores how the 1998 reforms came about, and the effects of the reforms. It traces briefly the development of student funding policies under the Conservatives, and under New Labour. Next, is assesses New Labour's policies and policy objectives, drawing upon the findings of a major survey on students' income and expenditure. So, it explores some of the effects and consequences, both intended and unintended, of the 1998 reforms.

scholarly journals Social Identification, Widening Participation and Higher Education: Experiencing Similarity and Difference in an English Red Brick University

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-369
Author(s):  
Tom Clark ◽  
Rita Hordósy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Social Identification ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Similarity And Difference ◽  
The University

In 2012, the UK government introduced the National Scholarship Programme – a scheme that aimed to ensure that young people from families with low household incomes would not be discouraged from entry into higher education by increases in tuition fees. Drawing on longitudinal evidence in the form of 80 semi-structured interviews conducted in an English Red Brick University over a 3-year period, this article uses Jenkins’ work on social identification to examine the processes by which these post-2012 undergraduates used and experienced the financial support made available to them as part of the Programme. The article explores how the initially categorical label associated with being a student in receipt of financial assistance was variously understood and experienced as they moved through their degree. Not only did the additional finance allow students to avoid excessive part-time work, recipients also felt increasingly valued by the institution when they began to recognise how their financial circumstances differed from their peers, and that the university had made this provision for them. It remains to be seen whether these, more intangible, benefits of non-repayable financial support will transfer to the system of ‘enhanced’ loans that have subsequently replaced maintenance grants and the National Scholarship Programme.

Informed choice? The new English student funding system and widening participation

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Adnett ◽  
Diana Tlupova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Current System ◽  
Informed Choice ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Funding System ◽  
English System ◽  
Student Finance ◽  
Student Funding

The new English system of student finance seeks to resolve a higher education policy trilemma created by government's desire to switch more of the costs on to students, whilst seeking to promote both increased and widening participation. The rationale for this new funding system is based upon orthodox economic analysis which, the authors argue, rests upon inappropriate assumptions. Survey evidence from recent entrants is presented to support this critique and to question whether the current system can promote both informed student decision-making and widening participation.

scholarly journals Does the Fear of Debt Deter Students from Higher Education?

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAIRE CALLENDER ◽  
JONATHAN JACKSON
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Classes ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Participation In Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Concerns over the impact of debt on participation in higher education (HE) have dominated much of the debate surrounding the most recent reforms of financial support for full-time students in England, including the introduction of variable tuition fees. Yet few studies have attempted to explore this issue in a statistically robust manner. This article attempts to fill that gap. It examines the relationship between prospective HE students' attitudes to debt, and their decisions about whether or not to enter HE. Using data derived from a survey of just under 2,000 prospective students, it shows how those from low social classes are more debt averse than those from other social classes, and are far more likely to be deterred from going to university because of their fear of debt, even after controlling for a wide range of other factors. The article concludes that these findings pose a serious policy dilemma for the Westminster government. Their student funding policies are predicated on the accumulation of debt and thus are in danger of deterring the very students at the heart of their widening participation policies.

scholarly journals Widening Participation in Higher Education through Open Educational Resources

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Lane
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Educational Resources ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
The World ◽  
The Many ◽  
Participation In Higher Education ◽  
Opening Up

This chapter examines the role that open educational resources might play in widening participation in higher education. It begins by highlighting the perceived importance of widening participation in higher education throughout the world and how that is defined, followed by the role that openness plays more generally in higher education, and then discusses the many ways in which open educational resources may help in opening up higher education by widening the audiences for them. It goes on to set out a conceptual framework for analysing both widening participation activities and open educational resources. It concludes that openness, as exemplified by open educational resources, is beginning to influence educational opportunities around the world, but that care is needed in setting out the contexts in which such activity is taking place.

Cluttering in the Communicative Disorders Curriculum

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
John A. Tetnowski
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Opportunities For Learning ◽  
Communicative Disorders ◽  
Theoretical Issues

Abstract Cluttering is discussed openly in the fluency literature, but few educational opportunities for learning more about cluttering exist in higher education. The purpose of this manuscript is to explain how a seminar in cluttering was developed for a group of communication disorders doctoral students. The major theoretical issues, educational questions, and conclusions are discussed.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK medical school widening access schemes: disruption, support and a virtual student led initiative

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R Bligh ◽  
Ellie Courtney ◽  
Rebecca Stirling ◽  
Asveny Rajananthanan ◽  
Hibatallah Altaher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Manipulation Check ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Widening Access ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background COVID-19 has disrupted medical education in the United Kingdom (UK). The pandemic may result in a long-term disproportionate negative impact to students applying to Medical School from a low-socioeconomic background. In addition, the upsurge in Medical School applications increases the likelihood of stricter University entry criteria over the coming years. There is no current research to determine how widening participation of Medicine to students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds can be improved virtually. The aim of this study is to establish the impact of COVID-19 on students enrolled in UK widening access schemes and the role of virtual student led initiatives in widening participation. Methods A voluntary online survey was distributed to UK Sixth Form students (N = 31) enrolled in a widening access scheme who attended Sheffield Neuroscience Society International Virtual Conference in February 2021. The event was free to attend. The five-domain survey consisted of questions determining demographics, career aspirations, impact of COVID-19, academic skillsets and an educational manipulation check. Results There were 30 pre-conference and 26 post-conference responses. 76.7 % had work experience cancelled due to COVID-19. A total of 36.7 % of participants reported participating in virtual work experience. ‘Observe GP’ and ‘Medic Mentor’ were each specified as attended virtual opportunities in 20 % of answers. Post conference, students felt significantly more confident in applying to Medical School (p = 0.008) and more prepared to undertake a presentation (p = 0.002). Educational manipulation check scores increased significantly (p = 0.003). 100 % of students felt inspired to do further CV building activities. Conclusions COVID-19 has negatively impacted pupils enrolled in UK Medical School widening access schemes. Virtual student led initiatives can instill confidence in delegates from low socio-economic backgrounds, increase their career knowledge and inspire them to take part in further CV building exercises. Both Medical Schools and medical students play a key role in widening participation. This study recommends Medical Schools promote access to virtual events, urge private and state schools to declare offered opportunities and act mindfully when determining student’s academic potential in the context of their socioeconomic and/or educational background.

scholarly journals Running up a Down-Escalator in the Middle of a Class Structure Gone Pear-Shaped

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Ainley ◽  
Martin Allen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Class Structure ◽  
Private Providers

Whilst widening participation to higher education was approaching New Labour's target of 50% of 18-30s (for women at least), it was presented as a professionalisation of the proletariat but in reality and in hindsight it can be seen to have disguised a proletarianisation of the professions - for which HE supposedly prepares its graduates - with many reduced to para-professions at best. It is argued therefore that education as a whole faces a credibility crunch. However, many have nowhere else to go since without qualifications they face falling into the so-called ‘underclass’ which was widely seen to have manifested itself in the riots of summer 2011. Like other commentators, we point out that the majority of youth did not riot and focus instead upon the children of the new working-middle class who are running up a down-escalator of devalued qualifications. This only intensifies national hysteria about education as the Coalition's reception of Browne's Review restricts competitive academic HE entry to those who can afford tripled fees, while relegating those who cannot to ‘Apprenticeships Without Jobs’ (cf. Finn 1987 ) in FE and private providers. With reference to Allen and Ainley (2011) , this paper speculates as to the likely outcome of this generational crisis.

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