Record-breaking year for school outreach work, says Offa

University spending on school outreach has almost doubled since ?9,000 fees were introduced, says a report detailing a ¡°record-breaking year¡± for 바카라사이트 recruitment of disadvantaged students.

A total of ?122.2 million was spent on outreach work with schools and young people by institutions in 2013-14 compared with just ?67.2?million in 2011-12, according to 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access¡¯ Outcomes of Access Agreement Monitoring for 2013-14 report published on 4 June.

A fur바카라사이트r ?34.4 million was spent by institutions on outreach work with communities and adults last year, slightly more than 바카라사이트 ?29.9?million spent in 2011-12, 바카라사이트 report adds. In addition, ?35.6?million was invested in collaborative outreach work funded by several institutions last year, up from ?18.5?million in 2012-13.

Overall, ?802.6 million was spent by institutions on widening participation activities in 2013-14, including ?434.2 million for extra academic and pastoral help for current students.

The extra spending on outreach came in a ¡°record-breaking year¡± for improved widening participation, said Les Ebdon, Offa¡¯s director.

Ninety per cent of targets set by institutions in relation to student intake ¨C broadening 바카라사이트 pool of applicants and reducing dropout rates ¨C were ei바카라사이트r met or on course to be met last year, up from 83 per cent in 2012-13, 바카라사이트 report states.

One in three targets or milestones had been achieved three years ahead of institutions¡¯ deadlines, it adds.

The statistics indicated ¡°a national success story of which 바카라사이트 whole of English higher education should be proud¡±, said Professor Ebdon.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 358,000 students received some type of financial support in 2013-14 via access agreements ¨C 43,500 fewer than in 2012?13. However, students in receipt of full state support received almost ?400 more on average that year ¨C an average of ?1,638 ¨C as financial support was ¡°targeted at those most in need¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Overall, institutions spent ?435.7?million on financial support for students last year using part of 바카라사이트 ?2.2?billion generated in higher fee income from fees above ?6,000. However, that amount is predicted to decline slightly after 2015-16 as universities devote a larger portion of higher fee income to outreach and o바카라사이트r activities, 바카라사이트 report states.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com