Funding for widening participation in higher education

Responses to consultation and funding for 2003-04 to 2005-06

This document sets out responses to the consultation on widening participation funding in 2002. It also sets out the distribution of £255 million through the widening participation allocation, and the new method for allocating this funding. It provides further information on the joint HEFCE/LSC Partnerships for Progression initiative, including confirmation of funding for summer schools and the development of a national programme.

To:	Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions Heads of HEFCE-funded further education colleges Heads of universities in Northern Ireland
Of interest to those responsible for:	Strategic and corporate planning, Finance, Widening participation, Learning and teaching
Reference:	2003/14
Publication date:	March 2003
Enquiries to:	Dr Sheila Watt tel 0117 931 7013 e-mail s.watt@hefce.ac.uk Christine Fraser tel 0117 931 7467 e-mail c.fraser@hefce.ac.uk David Barrett tel 0117 931 7018 e-mail d.barrett@hefce.ac.uk For specific queries about institutional allocations, contact the relevant HEFCE regional consultant or higher education adviser (contact details are on our web-site).

Executive summary (read on-line)

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Report and annexes A and B
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Annex C Breakdown of widening participation funding for 2003-04
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Executive summary

Purpose

1. We consulted in 2002 (HEFCE 02/22) on new proposals for widening participation funding for 2003-04 to 2005-06. This document sets out the responses to that consultation and the new methodology for allocating widening participation funding from 2003-04.

Key points

2. Following the responses to the consultation (a summary is included in Annex A), we have revised the method for allocating widening participation funding. From 2003-04 it will take into account prior educational attainment and geodemographics (the weightings are included in Annex B). We will continue to undertake work on available data to ensure we use the most appropriate measures.

3. The amount available for the widening participation allocation has been increased to £255 million in 2003-04. The distribution of the widening participation allocation by institution is set out in Annex C.

4. Higher education institutions will not be required to submit revised widening participation action plans as suggested in HEFCE 02/22. There will be a call for revised widening participation strategies and action plans for 2004-05 to 2006-07, to be published in autumn 2003.

5. Partnerships for Progression will be brought together with Excellence Challenge in 2004 under a programme called 'Aimhigher'. In the interim it will be referred to as Aimhigher: Partnerships for Progression.

6. Funding for summer schools has now been confirmed for a further three years (2003-04 to 2005-06), at £4 million per year.

7. We will work with the Learning and Skills Council to develop a national scheme to work in conjunction with Partnerships for Progression.

Action required

8. No action is required.

March 2003/14 Core funding/operations Report on consultation

This report is for information only