From access to achievement: What research reveals about contextual offers in HE

Contextual offers and widening participation are now central to Higher Education admissions, yet many careers professionals want clearer, evidence-based insight into how these policies operate in practice and what they mean for students’ long-term outcomes. This webinar brings together sector expertise and current research to support more informed and confident career guidance for widening participation (WP) candidates.

Delivered jointly by a Director of Future Pathways with over 10 years’ experience in careers education and guidance, and the Head of Widening Participation and Access from Durham University, the session offers a robust, data-driven exploration of contextual admissions. Drawing on national and institutional research, we will examine what the data tells us about the entry, continuation and academic achievement of students admitted through contextual offers.

The webinar will move beyond headline narratives to explore common misconceptions, variations in practice across the sector, and the evidence behind policy decisions. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how contextual offers are used, how success is measured, and how WP students progress once at university.

Designed for careers advisers, practitioners and educators, this session aims to deepen understanding of widening participation and support more nuanced, confident and effective guidance for students considering Higher Education pathways.

This session supports the following CPD competencies:

•    Career Development Practice
•    Professional Practice, CPD and Research