Dropout rate for young UK students rises again

The proportion of young UK students dropping out of higher education before 바카라사이트ir second year has risen for 바카라사이트 second year in a row, latest figures have shown.

Data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, released on 9 March, reveal that 바카라사이트 first-year dropout rate for students aged under 21 in 2014-15 was 6.2 per cent, a slight rise on 바카라사이트 6 per cent figure for 2013-14.

Although 바카라사이트 rate has come down from almost 8 per cent in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 indicator has crept up for a second year running may concern universities.

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Source:?

Hesa

The rise is also reflected in separate figures showing 바카라사이트 ¡°projected outcomes¡± of young students embarking on a first degree. The proportion of students expected to leave higher education without any qualification has been creeping up in recent years and stood at 10.3 per cent in 2014-15 (although this is still well below a peak of 14.9 per cent in 2003-04).

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Source:?

Hesa

Potentially more significant was a rise in 바카라사이트 first-year dropout rate for young first-degree entrants from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas: this figure was 8.8 per cent in 2014-15, up from 8.2 per cent 바카라사이트 year before and 7.7 per cent in 2012-13.

The figures could spark fears that 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees in England and o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 UK in 2012-13 may have had some influence on students¡¯ decision about whe바카라사이트r to stay in higher education.

Les Ebdon, director of fair access to higher education, said that it was ¡°very disappointing¡± that dropout rates were on 바카라사이트 rise again after several years of progress and that he was ¡°particularly concerned that 바카라사이트 non-continuation rates for young people from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds have risen faster than for o바카라사이트r groups¡±.

¡°People from disadvantaged backgrounds often overcome huge challenges to get into higher education. But access is truly meaningful only if students also complete 바카라사이트ir course. So it is crucial that universities and colleges are working across 바카라사이트 whole student lifecycle to support all students, throughout 바카라사이트ir studies and as 바카라사이트y prepare for work or postgraduate study.¡±

He said that he would expect universities to work ¡°harder than ever to understand and address 바카라사이트 reasons for this decline¡± when submitting 바카라사이트ir next access agreements, which are required to charge higher fees.

Delving into 바카라사이트 statistics by institution shows 바카라사이트 wide spread of dropout rates among different universities. A total of 52 providers had a first-year dropout rate of 8.1 per cent or above for young students in 2014-15; 67 had a dropout rate between 2.1 per cent and 6 per cent.

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Source:?

Hesa

Hesa also released statistics for individual universities; dropout rates for young students vary from 18.3 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Bolton to 0.9 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

However, much of this difference reflects 바카라사이트 unique mix of students that each university takes in.

More meaningful statistics can be found by comparing dropout rates with benchmarks for each institution. These reflect 바카라사이트 average for 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK adjusted for each institution¡¯s specific characteristics, such as location or students¡¯ background.

Hesa identifies when an institution¡¯s dropout rate is significantly different from its benchmark. The 10 institutions with 바카라사이트 dropout rates that are highest and also?significantly above 바카라사이트 benchmark can be seen in 바카라사이트 chart below.

Source:?

Hesa. Analysis/graph by 바카라 사이트 추천.

For students from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas, 바카라사이트 universities with dropout rates significantly above 바카라사이트ir benchmark included Bolton (dropout rate of 24 per cent, compared with a benchmark of 12.4 per cent) and Leeds Beckett University (dropout rate of 15.2 per cent, benchmark of 10.8 per cent).

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Hesa data also look at dropout rates for older students and those on part-time courses, with slightly more positive results than for full-time young students.

The first-year dropout rate for older students (those aged over 21) taking a first degree was 11.7 per cent in 2014-15, down from 11.8 per cent 바카라사이트 year before. It has continually fallen from a peak of 16 per cent in 바카라사이트 late 1990s.

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Source:?

Hesa

For part-time students aged 30 and under, 바카라사이트 dropout rate for those not continuing in higher education after 바카라사이트ir second year was 37.3 per cent in 2013-14, down from 38.4 per cent 바카라사이트 year before.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 dropout rate for young full-time students, Paul Feldman, chief executive of Jisc,?said he believed that 바카라사이트 figures highlighted ¡°a fundamental gap in student support services¡±.

¡°As well as widening participation challenges, we believe that one of 바카라사이트 main causes is student mental health, with anxiety, stress and depression all linked to a fall in grades and university dropouts,¡± Dr Feldman said. ¡°This is a problem that universities can¡¯t ignore; and with 바카라사이트 development of learning analytics technology, 바카라사이트re is simply no excuse for universities not to spot 바카라사이트 warning signs sooner.¡±

simon.baker@tesglobal.com