About SPA
Background
The creation of a central source of expertise and advice on admissions issues was a key recommendation of the Admissions to Higher Education Steering Group report 'Fair Admissions to Higher Education: Recommendations for Good Practice' (Professor Steven Schwartz, 2004). Universities UK (UUK) and GuildHE took the recommendation forward with the four UK funding councils. Early in 2006 a national Steering Group for Supporting Professionalism in Admissions was established and a business plan drawn up by UCAS, with the HE Academy, was approved. The Steering Group consists of a wide range of education sector representatives from across the UK and was initially chaired by Sir Muir Russell (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow).
Janet Graham was appointed as the first Director of the programme in May 2006. As the former Head of Admissions at the University of Cambridge Admissions Office, Janet was ideally placed to lead on the development of activities and research designed to support and enhance good practice in admissions, student recruitment and widening participation across the UK higher education sector.
The SPA Steering Group continues to meet quarterly. Professor David Eastwood (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham) chaired the group to July 2011 and the current chair is Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the Univeristy of Exeter.
SPA supports Higher Education provider Institutions (HEIs) offering HE programmes and courses to:
- continue the development of fair admissions
- enhance professionalism
- share good practice developed from evidence gained on visits to universities and colleges
- provide advice to admissions decision-makers and other stakeholders.
The SPA team of just six staff brings over 75 years experience and expertise between them in student recruitment, admissions and widening participation to the SPA Programme. Expertise includes dealing with home and international applicants, publications and information, strategy, policy and operational development, procedures, admissions systems and business analysis.
The SPA website is a major feature of SPA's information and communication strategy. The information found on the website is designed to provide information, expertise, support and guidance to all those who come into contact with the Programme. The various stakeholders of the Programme involved in admissions decision-making should find the information impartial, useful, brief, clear, authoritative, interesting and accurate. If you have any comments about the content of the website or if you spot any errors or omissions please contact SPA.
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back to About SPA main pageReviewed and updated: October 2010