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A new space to talk about access, participation and student success

25 Aug 2026

How do we create fairer access to higher education? What helps students from all backgrounds succeed once they are here? And how do we learn from the work already happening across the University?

Students at table

The new Access and Success Community of Practice brings colleagues together to work through those questions. It is open to anyone working in or interested the University’s access and success priorities and activities. including professional services and academic staff. This new CoP builds on the foundations of our former Widening Participation and Academic Enrichment (WPAE) Network to create a space for sharing what works, talking honestly about what is difficult, and hearing from people doing relevant research.

The first session takes place on Wednesday 16 September, 1pm to 3.30pm, on campus in Simon 3.44 and online via Teams.

Contextual admissions

The session will focus on contextual admissions and how they create fairer access to higher education. Alongside an update on the University's revised contextual admissions eligibility criteria for the 2027 entry cycle, colleagues will hear about wider sector research into how contextual admissions are being used across English universities. This first discussion will explore how contextual admissions are applied throughout the admissions cycle, from offer-making through to confirmation, and what this tells us about fairness, transparency and widening participation.

Contextual admissions are designed to help universities understand achievement in context, recognising that applicants may have reached the same academic outcomes despite very different educational and personal circumstances. Following a review of the existing policy, the University is updating its eligibility criteria for 2027 entry, expanding the range of data used to identify applicants who may have faced socio-economic or educational barriers to achieving their full potential. This includes additional consideration of factors such as Free School Meal eligibility, young adult carer status and other indicators of disadvantage.

For colleagues across teaching, learning and student support, the session provides an opportunity to better understand one of the University's key approaches to widening participation and how it contributes to our wider Access and Participation Plan commitments. It is also a chance to explore some of the broader questions surrounding equitable access to higher education and student success.

Future sessions

Future Community of Practice sessions will explore wider access and success themes including fair admissions, educational inequality, poverty and place, anti-racism, and student success.

Whether your work supports students directly or contributes to teaching, learning and the student experience more broadly, this is a chance to learn from colleagues across the University, connect with emerging research, and take part in conversations that affect student outcomes.