New scheme gives a third of university admission offers to private schools
The new Bristol Scholars scheme has been praised as an innovative step to increase social mobility in the city by making lowered offers to students judged to have ‘high potential’ by their schools, Epigram reports.
Half of the schools partaking are private schools, with 33 per cent of the adjusted offers made to their students.
Launched in December of last year, the ‘pioneering’ scheme which aims to ‘ensure local student have an equal opportunity’ is open to five students from every school in the local region, with head-teachers making the choices based on ‘potential and progress’ rather than solely on exam results.
Priority is given to students who meet a range of widening participation criteria such as being the first in their family to attend university, being part of the free school meals cohort, living in care or being a young carer.
Private school head warns he will expel students because school is oversubscribed as he lists misdemeanours pupils will be excluded for
Toby Belfield, head of Ruthin School in Denbighshire, Wales, said the school was oversubscribed by around 25 students, and that he was exploring tougher policies to exclude those caught breaching school rules.
The plans, which were obtained by reporters via leaked emails, reveal that a raft of new rules will be introduced banning students from going to the park or restaurants, ordering takeaways, smoking and drinking - regardless of their age.
Should students unwittingly breach new protocol, Mr Belfield warns that they “will not return in September 2017”.