NEON – the National Education Opportunities Network
“Over 50% of universities admit less than 5% of white students from low participation neighbourhoods”
NEON's 2019 ‘Working Class Heroes – Understanding access to higher education for white students from lower socio-economic backgrounds’ report.
We at NEON believe that access to and success in higher education should never be based on race, ethnicity or socio-economic background, only a person’s potential and dreams.
NEON is the professional organisation supporting those involved in widening access to higher education (HE). NEON enables those working to widen access to HE at all levels and in all sectors to affect change in their own organisations and communities.
At the heart of NEON is a cross-sector approach bringing together Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), schools, colleges, the voluntary sector, professional bodies and employers. NEON grew from the need for a strong, coherent community of professionals that could support learners from underrepresented backgrounds to enter HE. NEON is shaped and led by its members.
NEON member organisations
Individuals in NEON's network
Delegates attended NEON events since 2012
Am struggling a bit with final panel. Panelists are important & insightful voices. But the framing feels removed from sch practitioners on the ground- what do Pastoral/ Subject leads in less well-connected schs want/get out of uni partnerships? Want to explore this. #ofsinsight
And on the challenges of relationships between schools and unis @SallyBurtonshaw says these include a lack of shared aims, understanding what works and what doesn't, and navigating through systems with both schools and unis asking - "Who do you talk to?" #OfSinsight
For most HE courses, exams are not solely used to assess understanding. Yet most level 3 qualifications are exam based because they are more "rigorous". Varied assessment would allow students to show varied strengths. #ofsinsight
Spot on @JohnLaramy - there does need to be much more appreciation of what success looks like. This has parallels with focus on measuring quality by graduate outcomes using insufficient indicators when it comes what consitutes future success #OfSInsight
Mic drop question - finally, recognising the needs of SEND students. Multi agency approach will be needed and better structures and systems. #OfSInsight
#ofsInsight Well said, @SallyBurtonshaw: "It’s not about raising aspiration, it’s about removing structural barriers."
Low attainment is just ONE symptom of those barriers, but not the only. Addressing it (not easy) won’t fix the challenges of #Access&Participation alone.
