Commenting on the final wave of the UCAS End of Cycle Report 2017, Professor Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said:
“This report provides further positive indications that the work universities and colleges do to improve fair access is paying off. The upwards trend in the rate of young people from the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods entering higher education has continued this year – with greater rates of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education than ever before.
“There are especially pleasing signs of progress at those universities with the highest entrance requirements. There has been a 10.4 per cent proportional increase in entry to these universities from students from the most disadvantaged areas. This marks the highest increase on record.
“While encouraging, we must not let today’s figures mask the challenges which remain in this area. Young people from the most advantaged backgrounds are still 5.5 times more likely to enter universities with the highest entrance requirements than their disadvantaged peers. As a result, people with the potential to excel are missing out on opportunities. This is an unforgivable waste of talent, and universities must continue to press for transformational progress.”
ENDS
For further information contact Sean Beynon (Head of Communications) at OFFA on 0117 931 7022 or press@offa.org.uk