The Office for Fair Access today welcomed the news from UCAS that more 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to university [note 1]. Professor Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said:
“Although overall university applications fell this year, I am pleased to see the continuing rise in the proportion of disadvantaged 18-year-olds entering higher education.
“The 10 per cent rise in the proportion of English 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds going to universities that have the highest entry requirements is particularly welcome.
“But there are still wide gaps in participation. Overall, entry rates for 18-year-olds from advantaged areas remain three to four times higher than for those in disadvantaged areas. And the most advantaged young people are still six to nine times more likely than the most disadvantaged young people to go to one of the universities with the highest entry requirements.
“Universities work hard to reach out to young people in communities where very few people go to higher education, helping to raise their aspirations and academic achievement, for example through summer schools and mentoring [note 2]. This is one of the most successful ways to encourage bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aspire to a highly selective university, and to support them in realising their academic potential so they can get the grades they need to be accepted.
“I am encouraging universities to increase their outreach work, to do more of what they find to be most successful at improving access and shrink the gap further in years to come.”
ENDS
For further information contact Zita Adamson, OFFA Communications Manager (0117 931 7272) or Sophie Mason, OFFA Communications and Press Adviser (0117 931 7204), or email press@offa.org.uk
Notes to editors
- 2012 Application Cycle: End of Year Report is published by UCAS.
- Some examples of outreach work:
For more details about these schemes please contact the universities directly.