About SPA

The External Evaluation of the SPA Programme

The 18 month evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the SPA Programme by a team of external evaluators culminated in a positive final report to HEFCE on behalf of all the UK HE funding councils in July 2011. It highlighted SPA’s achievements and made a number of recommendations.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at Wolverhampton University and previously SPA's External Evaluation Manager stated in the report:

"SPA has reviewed the admissions landscape and been an effective contributor to policy fora and there is significant evidence that it has helped HEIs shape their responses to new national agendas. SPA has steered practice and significant change within the sector and admissions work in particular."

Achievements include:

SPA has been a successful programme when measured against the objectives set for it and the recognition it has achieved within the HE sector. It has achieved this with a relatively small team and against a broad and challenging agenda. It is clear that SPA is recognised as being well-embedded and as credible by the sector
The work of SPA has focussed both on the professional development of admissions to HE within the sector but also in seeking the shape policy matters across the UK. It has won the confidence of national policy makers and is a key player in many of the initiatives that shape admissions to HE
SPA resources are used widely to inform HE providers’ admissions work and there is an appetite for more resources to be created to help institutions respond to a wide range of issues.

Recommendations included:

The further promotion of fair admissions and professionalism
The development of more evidence of impact, and of outcome related to outputs, particularly in times of funding constraints
Review the nature of the organisational and governance structure
The further identification by SPA of effective practice in a wider range of admissions contexts, e.g. part-time students, and to a wider group of stakeholders, including FE Colleges and private providers, in order to promote confidence and demonstrate transparency in the sector’s professionalism in admissions.
The acknowledgement that SPA works closely with UUK, GuildHE and other sector organisations, and that consideration may wish to be given to more formal links with one or more organisation
The importance of SPA specifically addressing the policy similarities and differences regionally in the UK

External Evaluation of the Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) Programme

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Created: January 2012