ASCL comment on HEPI paper about reforming the UCAS personal statement

Responding to a paper from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) which argues for UCAS personal statements to be replaced by short-response questions, Kevin Gilmartin, Post 16 Specialist at the Association of Schools and College Leaders, said: “The research from HEPI indicates that the personal statement in its current form favours more advantaged students, as they are more likely to receive extensive support from families and other sources.

“Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to be able to draw on that support, particularly where students come from families with little experience of university. Parents or carers of disadvantaged students are also often too busy working long hours just to make ends meet, to be able to offer any other form of support.

“Whilst teachers work hard to support students with personal statements by providing advice and guidance, they cannot solve a systemic inequity, and it is the system that needs to change. We welcome the principle of levelling the playing field in terms of university admissions and look forward to examining the proposals in more detail.”