So asking students to put their parental backgrounds on their Ucas applications for university - reported today - is a positive step to widening participation, isn't it? asks John Beckett.
Critics say it's social engineering. Well, it might be - but then the system we have had for some time is social engineering anyway so why not balance things out to make things fairer? But will the new measure work - or backfire?
Widening participation as a movement is slowing down. It's PC to believe in it but many have shown they have a desire to maintain the status quo in universities, particularly the traditional ones. No doubt ministers are aware of all this and are disappointed more progress hasn't been made in increasing those from more disadvantaged backgrounds in university.
So why not let admissions tutors know the context - the backgrounds from which these students are coming? Seems fair enough. Until you realise that this is all based on the premise that everyone believes widening participation is a good thing. Rather like the racism issue if you scratch the surface....
Allowing this information to be seen will allow discrimination both ways - some will undoubtedly use it positively whilst others may well not - and all under the guise of fairer access.
For those of us working with the more disadvantaged students it is another example of doublethink that pervades the university admissions system in the UK and enhances the feeling that it is increasingly mired in mystique and opaqueness.
There is a big danger here of going backwards rather than forwards with fairer admissions to universities in this country. And if you don't believe me just read and listen to the rather scary and old fashioned out of date mid 20th century comments of spokespeople from the independent schools sector in the right wing press.
John Beckett is higher education adviser at City and Islington 6th Form College, London
