“Universities must be able to admit who they want to”: Tutors International criticizes watchdog’s ruling on poorer student admission levels
(PRWEB UK) 9 March 2015 -- Leading global tuition agency, Tutors International, which was founded in 1999 by Adam Caller, criticizes the recent announcement by the Office of Fair Access [1] that states that universities must increase the number of places given to poorer students.
The watchdog has warned universities to double their intake of poorer students in the next five years, a statement that has allegedly angered elite UK universities [2] who say “they can "only do so much" if students do not meet the grades.”
Adam Caller agrees with the sentiment from the countries top academic institutions, stating: “Universities like Oxford and Cambridge are already accepting nearly half of their intake from state schools. It’s not just privately educated, wealthy kids who go to good universities. Universities don’t exclude students based on social circumstances. They exclude them based on academic ability.”
As Mr Caller said in an earlier article [3], it’s imperative to safeguard the elite standards of UK education that its top universities are allowed to admit whomever they choose.
Next year the Russell Group universities in England will spend £234 million supporting poorer students and reaching out to pupils, teachers and parents across the country, with additional investments being made across the Devolved Administrations [4], according to Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General and Chief Executive of the Russell Group, who also said, “Of the 8,500 students eligible for free school meals who took three A-levels in 2010/11, only 546 achieved three or more A* or A grades.”
Mr Caller reiterated that it’s easy for students to appear more capable given schooling with better equipment and resources, but that ability is innate and intelligence is inherited. Bright and capable students from poorer backgrounds should be encouraged and brought up to an academic standard that allows them to compete at university, not university courses dumbed down to meet the standards of more students from the middle tiers.
It is reported by the Telegraph that seven times more middle-class youngsters go to university than those from poorer backgrounds. It is estimated that around 22,000 ‘disadvantaged’ students attend university. The Office of Fair Access wants this number to increase to 40,000 within 5 years.
Please visit http://www.tutors-international.com for more information about Tutors International.
References:
[1] http://www.offa.org.uk/press-releases/faster-progress-needed-on-fair-access-at-highly-selective-universities-offa/, Faster progress needed on fair access at highly selective universities, Office of Fair Access, 26 February 2015
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/11436076/Universities-told-to-double-number-of-poorer-students.html, Nicola Harley, Universities told to double number of poorer students, 26 Feb 2015
[3] http://www.tutors-international.com/the-uk-needs-private-universities-tutors-international-criticises-governments-applicant-restrictions-on-top-universities/, “The UK needs private universities”: Tutors International criticises Government’s applicant restrictions on top universities, Adam Caller, 18 August 2014
[4] http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/russell-group-latest-news/157-2015/10593-new-office-for-fair-access-strategy/ New Office for Fair Access strategy, Dr Wendy Piatt, 26 February 2015
Notes to Editors:
Tutors International is a worldwide organization providing experienced full-time private tutors to work with children of all ages and nationalities, in a wide variety of situations, including international relocation, after-school support, full-time home tuition, support for AD/HD and dyslexia, home schooling for frequent travellers, and college prep and coaching.
Tutors International was founded by Adam Caller who has tutored students of all ages. He has received specialist training in dyslexia and AD/HD and is very sensitive to children's educational difficulties. He has now turned this expertise to recruiting, training and placing other tutors with HNW and UHNW families around the world. Adam is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
Andrew Knight, Tutors International, +44 1865435135, [email protected]
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