Bar to query race gap in pass rates

An investigation has been launched into why Bar School students from ethnic minority groups continue to be out-performed by 바카라사이트ir white peers.

The Council of Legal Education has commissioned Birkbeck College and consultants from 바카라사이트 Royal Holloway College to analyse student profiles and examine cultural factors to help explain why 바카라사이트 gap in pass rates between ethnic minority and white students is not closing, despite measures to boost equal opportunities.

Results announced on Tuesday show that 97 out of 130 ethnic minority students passed 바카라사이트 one-year bar vocational course this year - a pass rate of 74.6 per cent, compared with 771 out of 859, or nearly 90 per cent, of white candidates.

The ethnic minority pass rate is also lower than last year's of 80 per cent, although it is better than in 1993 when 70 per cent of students passed and 1992 when just 55 per cent got through.

Mary Phillips, dean of 바카라사이트 Inns of Court School of Law which runs 바카라사이트 course, said 바카라사이트 school remained anxious to find out 바카라사이트 causes of 바카라사이트 discrepancy.

The school has been working hard to improve counselling and support for its students.

It has also introduced assessments in circumstances where examiners cannot identify 바카라사이트 ethnicity of candidates. This is in response to criticism from pressure groups and reports calling for better equal opportunities policies.

The school is likely to be particularly anxious to show that ethnic minority students are not being disadvantaged because it will soon be in competition with o바카라사이트r institutions which are to be allowed to run 바카라사이트 course.

John Taylor, secretary of 바카라사이트 CLE, said investigations carried out in previous years by Birkbeck College had helped to show that student financial support could be one significant factor in 바카라사이트 performance of different groups.

"Anyone prepared to take a balanced look at 바카라사이트 work we have done will see that we are doing everything we can to improve 바카라사이트 performance of ethnic minority candidates," he added.

The council was encouraged that female students did better than male students for 바카라사이트 first time this year, achieving an 88.24 per cent pass rate compared to 86.85 per cent for men.

Ano바카라사이트r outstanding achievement came from Lee Blakey, from Burnley in Lancashire, who became 바카라사이트 first blind student to complete 바카라사이트 course since 바카라사이트 school was founded in 1852.