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P.I.s and Low participation neighbourhoods
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I thought colleagues might be interested to have a record of today's
discussions with HEFCE on PIs.
THE PROBLEM
On seeing the London Guildhall University P.I.s just issued I was surprised to
see that our position relative to the adjusted benchmark for students coming
from Low Participation Neighbourhoods was not higher. After all, LGU got one
of the largest allocations relative to total Teaching grant of formula driven
Widening Participation premiums in the sector. Some of our neighbours were
similarly puzzled at their figures.
I spoke today to HEFCE's Ali Emrouznejad and Mark Carver on benchmarks per se
and low participation neighbourhoods.
BENCHMARKS
What was going on with the benchmark, (built up from a matrix of subjects
studied by entry qualifications)? Entry qualifications were aggregated into 20
groups: unknown, no qualifications, GNVQs, Access, Foundation, ONC/OND, Other,
A Levels by various points categories, degrees, etc. OK.
What is more problematic is the handling of subjects studied, a matter familiar
to some but perhaps not to all. Modular students and those on single subject
degrees with split HESA codes (e.g. EW42) get put into "Combined" when using
HESA field 43 (SBJQA1). This is an avoidable problem. The solution would have
been to use HESA fields 101-146 Subject area of study (SBJ01 to 16). More
processing yes, but a better outcome too. (This was the same problem faced by
the Guardian League Tables when they tried to construct their "custom subject
groups").
LOW PARTICIPATION NEIGHBOURHOODS
I was told that the method used for the Widening Participation formula funding
premium was based on 40 categories Super Profiles, not dissimilar to Mosaic.
When HEFCE re-examined the matter for the P.I.s they went further and based
calculations on 160 clusters. The result of this was to bring out what HEFCE
believed was the higher HE higher participation in deprived areas in London
compared to other parts of the country. There is an effect that will impact on
other London HEIs too. In big conurbations, people will more readily see that
HE is a ladder out of deprivation than in smaller towns and the poor rural
areas. In the big city there is plenty of choice of HEIs - not just the local
university.
Of the nine 'T' tables, the low participation neighbourhood effects five.
Quite a large proportion.
Bill Lovett
Head of Planning & Resources Unit - London Guildhall University
phone me at 0171-320 3480, or fax 3487 +++ icthus +++
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