Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (12 December) published its response to the Department for Education green paper, Schools that work for everyone.

Professor Dave Phoenix, Chair of MillionPlus and Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, said:

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s support for social mobility and her interest in schools and universities working together. There are many examples of this happening and partnerships range from outreach programmes, to helping to raise attainment in specific subjects, to universities sponsoring schools and university technical colleges.

“The proposal in September that universities should be required to sponsor a school as part of their Access Agreements would undermine the rich and varied relationships that have been developed between schools and universities and undermine the government’s ambitions. In fact, school sponsorship is just one way in which universities and schools can work together.

“To make it mandatory would divert resources and expertise which could be better invested elsewhere. Rather than imposing a top-down ‘one size fits all’ approach which will not work in many rural areas or places where there are already multi-academy trusts operating, it would be far better for education Ministers to ensure that the Office for Fair Access promotes best practice in university-school relationships.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts
3. The consultation itself can be found here and the full MillionPlus response is available here
4.  For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk