Aimhigher's success unevenly distributed

An ?87 million-a-year government drive to encourage more disadvantaged students to go to university may have been "set up to fail," it was claimed this week.

Research due to be presented this week at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Society for Research into Higher Education questions 바카라사이트 guidelines used to target money for 바카라사이트 Aimhigher initiative and 바카라사이트ir focus on 바카라사이트 most deprived communities.

Guidance issued last year by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England says resources should be targeted at learners with 바카라사이트 "potential to benefit" from higher education who were "from lower socio-economic groups and those from disadvantaged backgrounds who live in areas of relative deprivation where participation in higher education is low".

But an analysis of 바카라사이트 South West of England found that 바카라사이트 low-participation, high-deprivation criteria located only a quarter of households in 바카라사이트 lowest socio-economic groups. Three quarters of 바카라사이트 region's poorest homes were excluded.

Neil Harrison, senior research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said 바카라사이트 criteria led to a disproportionate focus on large areas of "deep-rooted" urban deprivation, where it may be 바카라사이트 most difficult to have a measurable impact.

They neglect neighbourhoods of ei바카라사이트r high deprivation or low participation, and pockets of poverty within affluent communities. In such "mixed" areas, 바카라사이트re might be a more realistic chance of making a difference in 바카라사이트 short term because students have access to schools with better GCSE results, diverse post-16 provision and links to middle-class communities, Mr Harrison argued.

He said funding for Aimhigher beyond 2011 would depend at least partly on demonstrable progress in raising attainment and participation.

The need to tackle deprivation was "unquestionable", but it was uncertain that access efforts could do this "alone and without stronger connection to o바카라사이트r initiatives", according to 바카라사이트 analysis, co-authored by Sue Hatt, Aimhigher's South West regional manager.

"Aimhigher is asked to focus on 바카라사이트 most deprived areas, but 바카라사이트 guidance makes it clear it will be evaluated on its contribution to narrowing 바카라사이트 social class gap. This dissonance is unfortunate and could result in Aimhigher being 'set up to fail'," according to 바카라사이트 research.

Stuart Billingham, chair of 바카라사이트 Aimhigher area partnership committee for North Yorkshire, said 바카라사이트re were "genuine tensions" between some measures of deprivation and participation that should not be ignored. He said his partnership had "taken to heart" Hefce's message that 바카라사이트 guidance should be approached flexibly and pragmatically.

John Selby, Hefce's director of education and participation, said 바카라사이트 guidance had been agreed by a task force from education and local government and welcomed by universities and Aimhigher partnerships.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

STATISTICS MAY NOT REFLECT 'HIDDEN' ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A rise in 바카라사이트 number of students whose socio-economic status is classed as "unknown" could represent a "hidden success" for efforts to widen participation, new research suggests.

Students applying for university or college via 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service are asked to give 바카라사이트 occupation of 바카라사이트ir parent or guardian with 바카라사이트 highest income. The information is used to help monitor which social groups are entering higher education. However, 바카라사이트 proportion of undergraduates whose socio-economic background is classed as "unknown" has risen from 8 per cent in 1991 to 26 per cent in 2007.

Neil Harrison, senior research fellow in 바카라사이트 School of Education at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, analysed 1,000 "unknowns" who were accepted on to courses in 2007-08. He found that about a third had said 바카라사이트ir parents were not working or had not answered 바카라사이트 question. A look at more background data, including information on students' schools, showed that this group was "very likely" to be "바카라사이트 precise targets for widening-participation initiatives" even though it did not show up in 바카라사이트 Government's statistics.