Circular letter CL09/05

Number	CL09/05
Subject	Recognising achievement on Access to HE programmes: consultation
Publication date	18 May 2005
Recipients	Heads of HEIs and FECs in England and Wales AuthorisedValidating Agencies Funding Bodies
Of interest to	Those involved in access and widening participation policy and initiatives Access to HE practitioners and managers Admissions staff and policy-makers in HE and FE institutions AuthorisedValidating Agencies
Further information	Kath Dentith 01452 557024, access@qaa.ac.uk
Response date	Friday 15 July 2005
Respond to	Ann-Marie Karadia 01452 557118, access@qaa.ac.uk

Dear Colleague

Recognising achievement on Access to HE programmes: consultation

I am pleased to present our proposals for a common credit framework for Access to HE. The proposals, which include a recommendation for a standard credit requirement for the QAA-recognised Access to HE qualification, identify a way in which more consistency can be brought to the description of Access students’ achievement. This is an important step in increasing equity and opportunity for Access to HE students through providing greater clarity and increasing understanding about their achievements.

The proposals are the outcome of work we have undertaken with practitioners from FE and HE over the last year. The work was undertaken at the request of the DfES, in order to take forward recommendations made in the Access to Higher Education Development Project Report (May 2004), which had identified a strong call for greater consistency in the Access to HE qualification.

The consultation document asks for views about the proposals and the next steps for this work, and we are keen to receive responses from all those involved. There are implications for both those who provide QAA-recognised Access to HE programmes and those involved in the recruitment and selection of students to HE, as well as for the students themselves. The proposals are likely to be of particular interest to:

those involved in access and widening participation policy and initiatives
Access to HE practitioners and managers
admissions staff and policy-makers in HE and FE institutions
Authorised Validating Agencies.

The consultation document and response form, together with other information about the QAA Recognition Scheme for Access to HE, are available on our website at www.qaa.ac.uk/access, and details about how to respond are contained within the consultation document itself. Please send your response to arrive by Friday 15 July.

We look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely

Peter Williams

Chief Executive