25 June 2008

Million+ Response to the National Audit Office report on 'Widening participation in higher education'

Pam Tatlow, the Chief Executive of the university think-tank Million+ said “Institutions cannot simply rely on schools to improve attainment or Government to promote ambition. Universities with strong traditions of promoting opportunities and aspiration have delivered and out-performed their benchmarks. These Universities have made a real difference to individual students and to widening access to higher education with imaginative admissions policies and well-honed support for students. Government commitment and targeted funding have been important and if anything, funding for teaching is not enough to cover the real costs of ensuring that students who are less well-prepared at the point of entry but have potential, succeed.”

ENDS

For further information, comment and interviews, please contact Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of Million+ on 020 7717 1655 / 07795 645241.