SPA - Supporting Professionalism in Admissions

Good Practice

Development of Good Practice Statements and Briefings

SPA has developed a number of good practice statements and briefings for institutions providing higher education courses. These have been produced from analysis of UK wide evidence by SPA staff with over 65 years of experience in higher education admissions and student recruitment from:

  • good practice gathered at visits to institutions - and over 100 were visited in the first three years of the SPA Programme
  • discussion with admissions networks, groups and organisations including UCAS, HE sector bodies such as UUK and GuildHE, Equality Challenge Unit and government departments
  • desk-based research from research and publications in these areas
  • taking forward and adding detail to the precepts outlined in the QAA Code of Good Practice - Section 10 on Admissions to higher education (September 2006)
  • consultations with the HE and pre HE (schools and colleges) sectors
  • discussions and debates at conferences and seminars
  • discussion and interviews with experts in individual institutions and organisations

We are keen to highlight the importance of transparent, published admissions policies and procedures in all institutions as being good practice.

Our work has included the productions of statements of good practice covering feedback to applicants, interviews and applicants with criminal convictions, briefing papers on admissions tests and advice and comment on many other issues as detailed elsewhere on the SPA website.

Institutions are encouraged to strive for continual development and enhancement of good practice within admissions, student recruitment and widening participation. This requires the training and professional development of all staff involved in admissions by institutions. This could be assisted by the UCAS Professional Development Programme.

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Reviewed: July 2009