The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has today commented on UCAS data showing wide gaps in higher education application rates between 18-year-olds who had received free school meals and those who had not, and between different ethnic backgrounds [note 1].
UCAS’s data shows applications in 2014 from those who had received free school meals (a commonly used measure of economic disadvantage) rose to a new high of 18 per cent, compared to 37 per cent for other pupils. Meanwhile, application rates from different ethnic groups ranged from 61 per cent for 18 year-olds of Chinese ethnicity (61 per cent) and White (31 per cent).
Professor Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said:
“The upwards application trends are good news, but stark gaps remain between application rates from young people from different backgrounds. That means many talented, intelligent young people are missing out on the economic and social mobility that higher education helps to support, and the country is missing out on a pool of potentially excellent graduates who could be enriching our economy and society.
“Earlier today OFFA published a report [note 2] showing that universities and colleges will be increasing their outreach work over the next few years, encouraging people from under-represented groups to aspire to university and supporting them to improve their academic attainment. They will be investing a predicted £145.7 million in outreach activity under their 2015-16 access agreements [note 3]. They have also set themselves 133 targets relating to ethnicity, including some that specifically concern White students.
“I will continue to challenge universities and colleges to keep up their investment and effort in outreach because evidence shows that it is an effective way to encourage further improvements in access.”
ENDS
For further information contact Sophie Mason/Sean Beynon (OFFA Communications and Press Advisers) on 0117 931 7204/7022 or email press@offa.org.uk
Notes to editors UCAS analysis notes 2014/01 and 2014/02, published today. OFFA publication 2014/06, Access agreements for 2015-16: key statistics and analysis, available at www.offa.org.uk/publications. Access agreements are plans that universities and colleges must make in order to be allowed to charge fees above £6,000. These plans will include outreach (e.g. summer schools, mentoring, after-school tuition, links with schools and colleges in disadvantaged areas), activities to improve retention and success, and financial support such as bursaries and scholarships. The plans must be agreed with OFFA, which then monitors their implementation. The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is an independent, non-departmental public body established under the Higher Education Act 2004 to help promote and safeguard fair access to higher education for people from under-represented groups. For more information see www.offa.org.uk http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OFFA/~3/dzxX0jhYCpM/
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