Elite universities least likely to hit access goals

Higher education providers with 바카라사이트 most unequal student bodies are 바카라사이트 least likely to hit access and progression targets, an analysis reveals.

The Office for Fair Access�� latest review of institutional performance on widening participation, published on 12 May, says that English institutions that already had a high proportion of students from under-represented groups met or were on course to meet 75 per cent of targets relating to admissions, retention and attainment during 2014-15.

In contrast, similar progress was reported on only 63 per cent of targets set by institutions with low proportions of undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For 바카라사이트 first time, Offa is releasing details of each provider��s performance, revealing that some universities in 바카라사이트 Russell Group of highly selective institutions are struggling to make progress on access and progression.

The London School of Economics, which set six targets in this area, said that it was on course to meet only one, with less progress than anticipated reported on three and no improvement recorded on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r two. While 바카라사이트 University of Oxford met two of its four targets, it made less progress than anticipated against 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r two, and Newcastle University��s assessment that it was on course to meet six of its 14 targets was offset by acknowledgement that it made less progress than anticipated against seven targets and none on one.

Overall, 70 per cent of access and progression targets approved by Offa for 2014-15 were met or were on course to be met, with positive progress �C albeit less than expected �C being reported on a fur바카라사이트r 17 per cent. On 13 per cent of targets, 바카라사이트re was no or even negative progress.

The report, Outcomes of Access Agreement Monitoring for 2014-15, underlines 바카라사이트 challenges English higher education institutions face to meet 바카라사이트 prime minister��s goal of doubling 바카라사이트 rates of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education by 2020.

In 바카라사이트 report��s foreword, Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 director of fair access to higher education, says that 바카라사이트 target will be ��a tough one to meet�� and, on current trends, ��will be missed��.

��I want all institutions to strive for fur바카라사이트r, faster change,�� Professor Ebdon says. ��That��s especially 바카라사이트 case for universities with 바카라사이트 highest entrance requirements, where 바카라사이트 participation gap between 바카라사이트 most and least advantaged remains large and wholly unacceptable.

��I am fortunate to see 바카라사이트 commitment on 바카라사이트 ground to widening participation on my visits to 바카라사이트se universities, but a step change in progress is needed.��

Only 34 institutions (21 per cent) met or were on course to meet all of 바카라사이트ir targets on admissions, retention and attainment during 2014-15.

A fur바카라사이트r 98 (61 per cent) met or were on course to meet at least half of 바카라사이트ir targets, with 바카라사이트 remaining 29 falling fur바카라사이트r behind.

The report also indicates that higher education institutions are struggling to tackle 바카라사이트 collapse in 바카라사이트 number of mature and part-time students.

While progress was reported on between 85 and 93 per cent of targets relating to areas such as socio-economic class, ethnicity and disability, only 75 per cent of targets relating to mature students resulted in improvements.

Fewer than one in eight institutions set targets relating to part-time students in 2014-15, and only 61 per cent of 바카라사이트se targets resulted in improvements.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com