Contextual data in admissions
Definition
The definition will depend on where the information is used. For example contextual data for applicants to full-time undergraduates can be defined as data or information which may be part of, or additional to, that provided by the applicant in UCAS Apply that sets the application in its educational or socio-economic context. The data could be self declared or from publicly available datasets.
For widening access and inclusion it may be, for example, information that can help target schools and colleges in certain areas and to identify those potential students who maybe eligible for support through compact or progression agreements or other outreach and aspiration raising activities.
What sort of contextual data can be used?
Most HEIs have used for many years contextual data that is self declared by the applicant and/ or referee in UCAS Apply about the applicant as an individual, such as disability, illness, in care/ looked after, main carer for another/others, disrupted schooling, being part of a compact or progression agreement scheme etc. In addition institutions also may use interviews, auditions, portfolio review, admissions tests, assessment of skills and competencies and other relevant information. This type of contextual information is not new.
In order for HEIs to progress contextual admissions more effectively, robust data is required that is consistent, reliable and accessible and in an easy to access format. Such information is available from publicly available data, for example about schools performance or the UK wide POLAR2 data on young participation in HE rates.
SPA has worked with HEIs, government departments and agencies round the UK to bring together an initial set of data items based on the data a number of HEIs are already using but collecting themselves. UCAS carried out a successful feasibility study in 2010 and will provide these publicly available data items to HEIs, who signed up to use it, for 2012 entry.
Currently only a small number of institutions are using contextual data to inform admissions decision making and SPA will be working to support the HE sector as it moves towards wider use of such data which still has some limitations and is in its infancy. SPA has already agreed with the sector a set of principles on the use of contextual data.
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Reviewed and updated: February 2011