Good Practice

SPA leads on fair admissions to higher education in the UK by developing and promoting good practice in the recruitment and selection of students. SPA's work builds on the principles of fair admissions outlined in the Schwartz Report on Fair Admissions to higher education. SPA has become the impartial, central shared source of expertise on fair admissions and student recruitment issues, which is fully funded for users in the majority of our activities.

Our good practice statements, checklists and briefings for universities and colleges are on issues impacting admissions or at the request of the HE sector providing clarification or guidance on a variety of topics.. These have been produced from analysis of UK wide evidence by SPA's expert staff with experience in higher education admissions. The evidence is sourced from good practice gathered at visits to institutions; discussion with admissions networks, groups and stakeholders including UCAS, HE sector bodies such as UUK and GuildHE, AoC, HE funders and government departments; desk-based research from reports and publications; taking forward issues in the QAA Code of Good Practice on Admissions; consultations and surveys with the HE sectors; and discussions and debates at conferences and with experts in individual institutions and organisations.

SPA stresses the importance of transparent, published admissions policies and procedures as good practice. While acknowledging the autonomy of institutions in admissions, SPA encourages all universities and colleges to strive for continual development and enhancement of good practice and fair admissions.

Disclaimer: SPAs good practice is general guidance only, and should not be taken as a list of obligations and we do not offer legal advice and cannot take any responsibility for actions taken based on this information. Institutions must always take their own legal advice as they see appropriate. Our good practice is kept under review and updated as appropriate. Your comments or updates are invited and appreciated, please contact enquiries@spa.ac.uk.

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