Hesa shows student body to be broader and stronger

Universities are continuing to make steady progress on widening access and improving dropout rates, according to official figures.

Across 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 proportion of young full-time undergraduate entrants from state schools has again risen slightly, from 89 per cent in 2008-09 to 89.4 per cent in 2009-10.

The data published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency form part of 바카라사이트 annual performance indicators for 바카라사이트 sector. They also show that, as last year, dropout rates have fallen.

Among students starting full-time first degrees in 바카라사이트 UK in 2008-09, 바카라사이트 proportion who had dropped out a year later was 7.9 per cent, down from 8.6 per cent in 2007-08.

The most inclusive institutions were 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich and 바카라사이트 University of Bradford (see table right), where more than half of young full-time undergraduate entrants were from lower socio-economic groups.

In contrast, students from under-represented groups accounted for 10 per cent or less at 바카라사이트 Courtauld Institute of Art, 바카라사이트 Royal College of Music and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

The same three institutions also had some of 바카라사이트 lowest dropout rates.

The highest early dropout rates were found at 바카라사이트 former UHI Millennium Institute, now 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands (28.6 per cent), 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland (21.4 per cent) and London Metropolitan University (19.3 per cent).

London Met is also 바카라사이트 UK's seventh most socially diverse, according to 바카라사이트 Hesa figures.

Among 바카라사이트 highly selective research-intensive Russell Group universities, 바카라사이트 overall proportion of young full-time undergraduates from state secondary schools did not increase between 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said 바카라사이트 figures illustrated "바카라사이트 particular challenges" that 바카라사이트 country's most selective universities face in widening participation.

She pointed to figures showing that 바카라사이트 proportion of A-level students achieving three As or more at independent schools had risen from 15.1 per cent to 32.3 per cent over 바카라사이트 past 15 years.

Dr Piatt also claimed that Hesa's benchmarks for widening participation were "unsuitable, insufficient and flawed" targets.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 sector-wide figures, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 country had one of 바카라사이트 world's highest completion rates for higher education.

However, she sounded a note of caution ahead of changes to 바카라사이트 tuition fee system in England in 2012. "With considerable changes to 바카라사이트 funding and fees system on 바카라사이트 horizon, it will be vitally important to monitor 바카라사이트 impact on students from disadvantaged backgrounds," Ms Dandridge said.

"UUK plans to carry out detailed analysis of this as 바카라사이트 changes are introduced. We must ensure that 바카라사이트 public understands fully 바카라사이트 proposed changes to higher education funding."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.