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Motion · S6M-04712 · 30 May 2022

Widening Access Success for Scottish Universities

Lodged by Kaukab Stewart Standard Motion 22 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament commends Scotland’s 19 universities on the latest data from the Report on Widening Access 2020-21, which, it understands, reflects what it sees as further progress, and confirms that 16.7% of Scottish-domiciled entrants to university now come from the 20% most deprived areas (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 (SIMD20)); notes the reported improvement in the retention rate of students from SIMD20 areas and the welcome increase in the number of students with care experience starting university; congratulates universities for, it understands, successfully meeting the interim target of the Commission on Widening Access, that 16% of undergraduate entrants should be from SIMD20 areas in 2021, and for being on track to achieve the longer term target of 20% by 2030; believes that Scotland’s universities have the UK’s most progressive admissions policies to support access; considers that the remaining challenge to reach the 2030 goals, which, it understands, the Commissioner for Fair Access, Sir Peter Scott, described as "the hardest mile", will be substantial following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and what it sees as the lost learning at all levels of education; thanks Sir Peter Scott for his work as Fair Access Commissioner since December 2016; highlights what it considers is the renewed importance of ensuring a holistic approach to the access agenda in order to make further progress, joining up schools, colleges, universities and lifelong-learners, and calls on the next Commissioner to make this an explicit focus.

Supporters (22)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.