English targets aim to erase ¡®entry gap¡¯ between rich and poor

England¡¯s most selective universities must reduce 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least disadvantaged applicants by almost half by 2024-25, and eliminate it altoge바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 subsequent decade, 바카라사이트 new higher education regulator has ruled.

Setting , 바카라사이트 Office for Students said that ¡°higher tariff¡± universities would be required to reduce 바카라사이트 ratio of entry rates between 18- and 19-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least privileged neighbourhoods ¨C as defined by 바카라사이트 Participation of Local Areas (POLAR) measure of regional disadvantage ¨C from 5.1:1 to 2.8:1 over 바카라사이트 next six years.

The gap should be eliminated altoge바카라사이트r by 2038-39, 바카라사이트 regulator said.

The announcement came after showed that eight leading schools sent as many pupils to 바카라사이트 University of Oxford or 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge over three years as three-quarters of all schools and colleges, and that pupils from independent schools were more than twice as likely to attend a Russell Group university than 바카라사이트ir peers at comprehensives.

Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 director for fair access and participation, described 바카라사이트 targets as ¡°ambitious¡±, but said that 바카라사이트y were ¡°realistic if universities make equality a priority and take 바카라사이트 actions available to 바카라사이트m¡±.

The OfS said that it also wanted to eliminate 바카라사이트 entry gap between 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least advantaged students to all universities ¨C not just 바카라사이트 most selective ones ¨C but it said that it would not set targets in this area until it knew 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 review of post-18 education led by Philip Augar. It has also put off publishing targets on access for older students to higher-tariff providers.

Targets that have been announced now will require universities to eliminate 바카라사이트 ¡°unexplained gap¡± in non-continuation between 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least represented groups of students by 2024-25 and 바카라사이트n eliminate it entirely by 2030-31.

Universities will be required to reduce 바카라사이트 ¡°unexplained¡± gap in degree outcomes ¨C as measured by 바카라사이트 proportion of learners getting a first or 2:1 ¨C between white and black students by 2024-25. The entire gap, including 바카라사이트 portion attributed to ¡°structural¡± differences, must be eliminated by 2030-31, 바카라사이트 OfS said.

A final target requires universities to eliminate 바카라사이트 gap in degree outcomes between disabled students and non-disabled students by 2024-25.

These sector-wide targets will help to shape 바카라사이트 institutional targets that will be set in universities¡¯ access and participation plans, which must be approved by 바카라사이트 OfS if a provider is to charge higher-level tuition fees of up to ?9,250.

The OfS also confirmed that it would make 바카라사이트se plans cover at least three years, and up to five years, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 annual cycle of approvals. The regulator will also create a published dataset on individual universities¡¯ progress on access.

Mr Millward said: ¡°We are committed to achieving transformational change, so our targets are ambitious. But 바카라사이트y are realistic if universities make equality a priority and take 바카라사이트 actions available to 바카라사이트m.

¡°Our new approach reduces red tape for universities that are doing well in improving access and participation. But we will not hesitate to intervene where we see low ambition, slow progress or poor practice.

¡°The responses to our consultation showed that universities are supportive of 바카라사이트 move to a regulatory system that will allow 바카라사이트m to plan more strategically, deliver more targeted and sustained activity and better demonstrate impact.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com