SPA archive documents

SPA resources

SPA produced independent and objective evidence-based good practice resources to support the recruitment and selection of students. In 2017, UCAS took the difficult decision to withdrawn funding from SPA. 

The resources developed to support the sector can be found below. Many of the guiding principles behind these are still relevant, however, they may contain out-of-date information and terminology and will not reflect changes to UCAS systems and processes.

• The applicant experience: Introduction (144.1 KB)
• The applicant experience: Summary definition and key recommendations (173.91 KB)
• The applicant experience (1.64 MB)
• Designing your applicant experience strategy map (513.1 KB)
• Good practice admissions guide (869.04 KB)
• Applicant complaints policy checklist (40.58 KB)
• Applicant complaints and appeals good practice statement (668.58 KB)
• Example template - Applicant complaints and appeals form (35.26 KB)
• Admissions To Higher Education Review (Schwartz Review) (262.07 KB)
• Schwartz Review - Executive summary and conclusions (271.9 KB)
• Schwartz Review - Research findings (1.33 MB)
• Schwartz Review - Themes and good practice case studies (448.69 KB)
• Managing mistakes in admissions decision-making (1.24 MB)
• Admissions tests appeals (264.32 KB)
• SPA report on admissions tests (326.38 KB)
• Admissions tests questionnaire (411.98 KB)
• Admissions tests questionnaire response analysis (287.01 KB)
• Admissions tests key findings (184.37 KB)
• SPA briefing: accreditation and recognition of prior learning – definitions and examples (403.87 KB)
• Good practice in admissions (328.69 KB)
• Issue review plan (291.15 KB)
• SPA considerations for Confirmation and Clearing (195.44 KB)
• Good practice Confirmation and Clearing 2017 (195.44 KB)
• Good practice entry requirements 2017 (402.75 KB)
• Briefing equal consideration (163.44 KB)
• Good practice feedback to unsuccessful applicants (608.52 KB)
• Providers good practice guide - waiting lists (411.57 KB)
• Good practice interviews (360.75 KB)
• Checklist additional admissions assessments (209.12 KB)
• Good practice NETT additional admissions assessments (1002.91 KB)
• Good practice NETT communications (681.4 KB)
• Good practice NETT partnerships (243.58 KB)
• Good practice NETT tracking and monitoring (494.7 KB)
• Survey findings NETT applicant communications (69.54 KB)
• Good practice planning managing admissions processes (153.71 KB)
• Issue review plan (545.06 KB)
• Good practice NETT recruitment admissions (814.45 KB)

Equality and diversity resources

Here, you will find SPA resources relating to equality and diversity. If you have any feedback, please contact Carolyn Mindos, Principal Admissions Reform Lead, at [email protected]. 

• Briefing age (106.71 KB)
• Good practice care leavers (1.15 MB)
• Good practice disability support needs (575.53 KB)
• Briefing positive action (190.26 KB)
• Good practice disability support needs (575.53 KB)
• Research name blind evidence (429.05 KB)
• Good practice part time admissions (345.08 KB)
• Good practice summary unconscious bias (205.46 KB)