The art of progress

Offering progression from further to higher is presented as the latest thinking, yet it is nothing new for art and design institutes ("Access-driven Hodge eases way for mergers", THES , December 13). Last year, more than a quarter of students at Bournemouth, Cumbria, Kent, London, Norwich and Wimbledon were further education enrolments. Many do not possess traditional entry qualifications, yet nearly all progress to our higher education courses.

Vaughan Grylls
Chair, United Kingdom Arts and Design Institutions Association