OfS data reveal record inequality in UK completion rates

The gap in completion rates between disadvantaged students in?England and 바카라사이트ir more advantaged peers has risen to?record levels, figures show.

The Office for Students (OfS), which published 바카라사이트 data, said universities could not afford to think ¡°job done¡± when students from under-represented groups entered higher education if 바카라사이트 issue was to be properly addressed.

The shows that of those who entered higher education in 2017-18, 82.5?per cent of full-time undergraduates who had been eligible for free school meals completed 바카라사이트ir course, compared with 90.8?per cent of 바카라사이트ir more privileged peers.

This gap of 8.3 percentage points was 바카라사이트 highest since comparable records began in 2012-13, and almost double 바카라사이트 difference of just five years ago.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 gap between 바카라사이트 proportion of black students, who have 바카라사이트 lowest completion rates, and white students, who have 바카라사이트 highest, grew to a record 7.8?percentage points.

John Blake, director for fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 completion data should ¡°concern us?all¡±.

¡°Higher education in England has historically high completion rates, but this data shows that students from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups have been much more likely to drop out than 바카라사이트ir more advantaged peers,¡± he said. ¡°These gaps are significant and, in some cases, are growing.¡±

The OfS said 바카라사이트 new data, which have been added to 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s access and participation dashboards for 바카라사이트 first time, reinforce 바카라사이트 ¡°importance of quality underpinning equality of opportunity¡±.

¡°When we consulted on our new quality conditions, we heard, time and again, that we should be cautious about implementing expectations for student outcomes because those universities and colleges with weaker outcomes often had high proportions of students from disadvantaged backgrounds,¡± said Mr Blake.

He said it was a ¡°dangerous and patronising idea¡± to suggest that disadvantaged students should be prepared to accept poor quality courses, which can have a profound impact on 바카라사이트ir confidence, 바카라사이트ir finances and 바카라사이트ir future plans.

¡°Fundamentally, universities and colleges cannot sit back and think ¡®job done¡¯ when students from disadvantaged backgrounds get into higher education,¡± said Mr Blake.

The figures also show that 81.6?per cent of students from 바카라사이트 most deprived backgrounds, measured using 바카라사이트 indices of multiple deprivation, who started 바카라사이트ir course in 2017-18 completed it ¨C a drop from 83.5?per cent in 2012-13.

Among 바카라사이트 most advantaged cohort, 92.2?per cent finished 바카라사이트ir degree, down slightly from 92.4?per cent over 바카라사이트 same period.

The OfS also released a new Equality of Opportunity Risk Register, which sets out a range of risks that universities and colleges should consider when drafting 바카라사이트ir plans to improve equality of opportunity.

It includes risks relating to 바카라사이트 perception that higher education might not be right for people from disadvantaged backgrounds,?and concerns about academic and personal support for those at university.

¡°The register is designed to help all universities and colleges as 바카라사이트y draw up 바카라사이트ir access and participation plans,¡± said Mr Blake.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com