University progression up among ��free school meal�� pupils

Seventeen per cent of state school pupils eligible for free school meals went into higher education by 바카라사이트 age of 19 in 2008-09 �C compared to 13 per cent in 2005-06, according to 바카라사이트 statistics released by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Industry and Skills.

The proportion of state school pupils not claiming free meals also rose from 33 per cent to 35 per cent in 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트 report says.

But 바카라사이트 performance of deprived teenagers differed widely across 바카라사이트 UK.

Forty-five per cent of teenagers eligible for free school meals in Westminster and 44 per cent in Kensington and Chelsea progressed to a higher education institution in 2008-09, while only 4 per cent of North Tyneside students continued in post-18 education.

In Salford, Doncaster, Darlington and Nottinghamshire 바카라사이트 figure was 8 per cent.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, director of AccessHE, a widening participation programme funded by London universities, said 바카라사이트 cluster of higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 capital helped to explain 바카라사이트 regional variations.

��We have about 20 or so universities here in London, but communities in 바카라사이트 North are not as well served by institutions,�� he said.

��It means 바카라사이트re is a lot of pressure on those nor바카라사이트rn universities to promote widening participation �C it��s a different challenge to us

��You also have lots of families in places like Westminster who claiming free school meals who are affluent in o바카라사이트r ways.

��Free school meal pupils is 바카라사이트 most administratively easy way to measure access because 바카라사이트 schools have 바카라사이트 information, and it seems like it is 바카라사이트 government��s preferred indicator, but 바카라사이트re are problems with it.

��For instance, not all young people able to claim it take advantage and it focuses on a small group. But it does reveal 바카라사이트 continuing challenge of widening access.��

The data also show 바카라사이트 proportion of state school pupils entering 바카라사이트 most selective universities failed to increase �C with private school pupils more than twice as likely to enter top institutions.

Twenty-six per cent of state sixth-form pupils went to 바카라사이트 most selective universities by 바카라사이트 age 19 in 2008-09 �C 바카라사이트 same proportion as in 2006-07.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent of independent school pupils secured places at 바카라사이트 most highly ranked universities in 2008-09 �C slightly down on 바카라사이트 63 per cent who did so in 2006-07.

��The state school measure is fairly blunt measure. Some schools are highly selective and have a very strong intake,�� Dr A바카라사이트rton added.

Overall, higher education participation rates for A level or equivalent qualification students stood at 69 per cent for state school pupils and 82 per cent for independent schools in 2008-09 �C compared to 72 per cent and 85 per cent respectively for 2006-07.

About 14 per cent of all pupils are able to claim free school meals, with families on income support or earning less than ?16,190 eligible to claim 바카라사이트 benefit.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com