If education has one primary purpose then it surely has to be breaking down any barriers that stand in the way of aspiration and achievement, so that all children can achieve their potential.
That is why the new personal statements introduced by universities admissions service Ucas are a sensible and welcome reform. They will foster the belief that anyone can get into university, wherever they come from.
It’s something we have seen the impact of first-hand in our trust in Devon, and more widely in the West Country, where, historically, we had a low rate of university applications.
Increasing university applications
Our trust was founded in memory of Ted Wragg, one of the best-known figures in English education who was head of the University of Exeter’s School of Education.
Yet, ironically, the city that boasts this Russell Group university, where Ted worked and built his legacy, has had a record of low educational attainment, with secondary schools consistently below the national average.
However, 10 years after the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust was founded, three of our Exeter schools are now in the top 10 performing schools in Devon, including grammar schools.
We now have 17 schools within the trust, including secondary schools, primary schools and two all-through schools, teaching more than 13,200 pupils across Devon. That’s a lot of children with so much potential.
As we’ve seen outcomes significantly improve, we’ve also seen more young people moving on to aspirational Level 3 academic and vocational qualifications than ever before, which is opening up their pathways to think beyond 18. We are seeing increasing numbers of students heading to university, too, often being the first in their family to do so.
Yet there are more students who need support.
This is why the changes announced by Ucas to the personal statement for 2026 applicants will make a big difference, particularly to disadvantaged students. And these students will also benefit from Ucas’ recent decision to waive fees for students in receipt of free school meals from 2025 onwards.
As we have seen first-hand, writing a personal statement can be challenging for those with less support.
By changing the personal statement into three separate sections, all students - regardless of their background or prior experience with essay writing - will be much clearer on the information that universities and colleges want to see in their applications.
It will also help teachers working with students by making it easier for them to guide them on their applications and hopefully help to reduce workload, too.
The wider economic benefit
Overall, improving access to higher education has to be good not just for the individual but also for the nation. Rising levels of progression into HE also makes a huge difference to a region.
We can see that here in Exeter, where improved schools and strong working relationships with our local Russell Group university and an outstanding post-16 provider, Exeter College, mean that it’s becoming easier for firms to recruit and to encourage staff to move to the South West.
The willingness of our local further education and HE partners to champion high-quality Level 3 and 4 academic qualifications specifically linked to local skills shortages has been transformative.
We also want to see our graduates come back to Devon to well-paid and fulfilling careers. Improvements in schools and increased access to universities work in tandem, and together they help our nation grow more prosperous.
That elusive economic growth that every government tries to generate starts in our classrooms, and we need the flow of graduates to be smooth and constant.
More reform of the applications process will ensure that everyone we teach feels they have the opportunity to go to university to study for a vocational or academic qualification.
It is about improving aspiration and achievement and ensuring that education levels the playing field and transforms the lives of our children.
Moira Marder is CEO of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust
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