Making Access Count in the 2010s

Dr. Graeme AthertonHead AccessHE, Director, National

Education Opportunities Network (NEON)

What matters to the Prime Minister

• "What I want to see is a more socially mobile Britain. I want to see a Britain where no matter where you come from, what god you worship, the colour of your skin, what community you belong to, you can get to the top in television, the judiciary, armed services, politics, newspapers. A lot of these areas are important."

David Cameron, November 2013

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/14/david-cameron-social-mobility-major

20th Century social mobility

20th Century social mobility

• Poor young people going to very selective universities and then entering the elite

• The ‘grammar school’ experience

• Long range and narrow inter-generational progression

21st Century Social Mobility

• Highly diverse labour market – ‘good jobs’ are changing

• Social mobility short range (up and down?) as careers change over the life course

• A differentiated HE system and pathways to it essential in 21st century economy

• The elite matters: but we can’t all be in it

What matters to HEFCE..?

What matters to the Treasury?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/university-degrees-impact-on-lifecycle-of-earnings

What matters to BIS?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254101/bis-13-1268-benefits-of-higher-education-participation-the-quadrants.pdf

In an (a)ccess bubble?

Who is in the Bubble?

HEIs

SCHOOLS

FE

THIRD SECTOR

STUDENT UNIONS

EMPLOYERS

CAREERS

STUDENTSNETWORKS

POLICYMAKERS

Breaking out of the bubble

• What is the (a)ccess story?

• What is the (A)ccess story?

• How do the 2 relate?

• How do we tell it together?

• To contact me and learn more about my work:

• Graeme.atherton@londonhigher.ac.uk

• www.accesshe.ac.uk

• www.educationopportunities.co.uk