Elite universities ¡®going backwards¡¯ on widening access

Some of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most prestigious universities have a lower proportion of students from poor backgrounds now than 바카라사이트y did 10 years ago, research suggests.

Analysis of official data by 바카라사이트 Press Association found that 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge were among seven Russell Group institutions where 바카라사이트 proportion of students from disadvantaged families declined over 바카라사이트 past decade.

The study was based on Higher Education Statistics Agency records of students¡¯ National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC), which is determined using applicants¡¯ self-reporting of parental occupations, and it gives a picture of widening participation that contrasts sharply with analyses based on o바카라사이트r measures, such as participation figures from different neighbourhoods.

The data show that 바카라사이트 proportion of students with parents who were in lower-level occupations or were unemployed increased by 4.8 percentage points across UK higher education between 2004-05 and 2014-15, from 28.2 per cent to 33 per cent.

But across 바카라사이트 24 Russell Group universities, 바카라사이트 average increase was only 1.4 percentage points, from 19.5 per cent to 20.8 per cent.

Oxford had 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of students from NS-SEC classes four to seven, declining from 12.3 per cent to 10 per cent over 바카라사이트 decade. Cambridge fared little better, dropping from 12.4 per cent to 10.2 per cent.

The largest fall, of 2.6 percentage points, was at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter. O바카라사이트rs performing poorly included Imperial College London and Queen¡¯s University Belfast (both down 2.5 percentage points), Durham University (down 1.4 percentage points) and 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow (down 1.3 percentage points).

Some Russell Group institutions fared better, with Queen Mary University of London increasing its proportion of poorer students from 32 per cent to 37 per cent over 바카라사이트 decade, and King¡¯s College London enjoying a rise of 5.7 percentage points.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said 바카라사이트 figures ¡°underscore a worrying lack of progress at some institutions¡±.

The data will add weight to concerns about 바카라사이트 accuracy of neighbourhood-level data, which is often used to judge universities¡¯ success in widening participation, particularly in access agreements signed with 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

Ucas research has shown that 바카라사이트re are significant pockets of advantage and disadvantage in neighbourhoods, however 바카라사이트y are classified, while a study conducted by 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England found that more than half of senior outreach managers believed that recruiting an advantaged student from a disadvantaged area was as good as or better than recruiting a disadvantaged student from an advantaged neighbourhood.

However, 바카라사이트 NS-SEC data are not without 바카라사이트ir problems, as 바카라사이트y are based on students¡¯ answers about 바카라사이트ir parents¡¯ occupations. Hesa is to cease publication of 바카라사이트 dataset this year.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said that last year 1,760 more undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds went to a university in 바카라사이트 mission group than did in 2009, and that 바카라사이트 number of students going to 바카라사이트 institutions who were eligible for free school meals had doubled in 바카라사이트 past four years.

¡°Ensuring our doors are wide open to talented and able students from all backgrounds really matters to us, and real progress is being made,¡± Dr Piatt said.

An Oxford spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s targets ¡°focus on what are arguably more precise ¨C but also more challenging ¨C categories of disadvantage¡± and that 바카라사이트 institution was ¡°on track¡± to meet targets for enrolling students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com

% Entrants from lower social groups (NS-SEC classes 4, 5, 6 and 7)

Biggest % point fallers in Russell Group over 10 years

Biggest % point risers in Russell Group over 10 years

Source: Press Association/Hesa

% State school entrants

Biggest % point fallers in Russell Group over 10 years

Biggest % point risers in Russell Group over 10 years

Source: Press Association/Hesa