The equity illusion: why lowering standards doesn't help the disadvantaged

There is a well-meaning kind of pessimism behind equity-score inflation: the quiet belief that some people just can't get there, so we'll give them a leg up and hope for the best. But a society that takes equity seriously should be fiercely ambitious for the disadvantaged. It should want them to succeed not through allowances, but through achievement.

The good news is that this is possible. Some of the most successful access programmes have shown that with enough structure and encouragement, students from underrepresented backgrounds can thrive, not just enter university, but excel. And they don't need a lower bar to do it. They need adequate preparation.

In the end, fairness is not about everyone getting the same outcome. It's about everyone having a fair chance to reach their potential. That's not achieved by lowering the ladder, but by ensuring everyone gets the opportunity to climb it.