Event report - Linking London Access to HE Diploma Practitioner Group Meeting

After a warm welcome from Andrew Jones, Linking London, we first heard from Michelle Wood, Access to HE Development Coordinator and Sarah Francis, Access to HE Standards Co-Ordinator, from OCN London who presented on the latest OCN London updates, such as learner outcomes and demographic trends for Access to HE Diplomas. Key highlights included rising achievement and high-grade rates, increased representation of younger and ethnically diverse learners, and updates on QAA re-licensing and plans for international delivery of Access courses.

We then had a roundtable partner update providing an opportunity for partners to share the latest news and reflections on the term so far, including summer term results and recruitment as well as updates from university partners on their outreach work and forthcoming events.

Following this, we heard from Ben Rutter, Funding Information Services Account Manager, London and East Anglia, Student Loans Company who presented an overview of HE finance news and upcoming changes under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). BR highlighted recent tuition fee increases, maintenance and grant structures, outlined how repayment and loan write-off policies work for Access learners, and finally an LLE update including funding.

Lastly, Andrew Jones presented on the Linking London key findings of admission requirements for Access applicants from the Linking London Entry Requirement Report which maps 450 courses across 50 universities.

The next meeting will take place in the Spring term, date and time TBC.