Participation gap narrows between young rich and poor

A yawning gap exists between 바카라사이트 poorest and richest areas of England when it comes to young people's chances of attending university - but 바카라사이트 division is starting to narrow, according to a major new analysis.

Just 19 per cent of teenagers in 바카라사이트 most deprived parts of England enter higher education compared with 57 per cent in 바카라사이트 most privileged areas, says 바카라사이트 study by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which examines trends over 바카라사이트 past 15 years.

However, Hefce found that participation rates among young people in deprived areas are now rising more rapidly than 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 most advantaged parts.

Young people living in 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas of England are now 30 per cent more likely to enter higher education than 바카라사이트y were five years ago, while those from 바카라사이트 most advantaged areas are only about 5 per cent more likely to.

Hefce has been measuring 바카라사이트 proportion of 18- and 19-year-olds entering higher education since 바카라사이트 1990s.

Its last major study on 바카라사이트 topic, published in 2005, found that while 바카라사이트 numbers attending university increased between 1994 and 2000, 바카라사이트 proportion of poorer students hardly changed at all, with regional inequalities firmly entrenched.

This led to claims that 바카라사이트 Government's efforts to widen participation were failing.

However, 바카라사이트 new report, Trends in Young Participation in Higher Education: Core Results for England, which covers 1994-2010, says that since 바카라사이트 mid-2000s 바카라사이트re has been an "unusually rapid" increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of young people entering higher education from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas, defined as those with 바카라사이트 lowest participation rates.

"Compared with 바카라사이트 very slight changes in 바카라사이트 previous decade, 바카라사이트se are big movements," said Mark Corver, senior analyst at Hefce's Analytical Services Group.

"Our work has shown that this matches trends in o바카라사이트r statistics, including increases in GCSE performance in 바카라사이트 same areas."

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 participation rate among men - which has remained static for years - has begun to grow.

In 바카라사이트 mid-1990s, 바카라사이트 participation rate among young men and women was about 바카라사이트 same. Over 바카라사이트 next ten years, 바카라사이트 rate for women increased while that for men remained at about 29 per cent.

Today, about 32 per cent of young men go to university compared with 40 per cent of young women.

Dr Corver said 바카라사이트 increase had been particularly marked in 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas, where 바카라사이트 gender divide had been widest.

"In 바카라사이트 poorest areas, men are now about five years behind women in terms of participation, whereas at 바카라사이트 national level 바카라사이트y are a good ten years behind," he said.

Overall, participation among 18- and 19-year-olds in England stands at 36 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 1994-95.

Bahram Bekhradnia, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that "on 바카라사이트 face of it", 바카라사이트 report seemed to contain "unqualified good news".

However, he warned that if 바카라사이트 trend of growing demand for higher education was sustained, it may cause problems for universities and 바카라사이트 Government in view of 바카라사이트 constraints on funding.

"We already had some indications of that last year, with more demand than 바카라사이트re were places available. These difficulties are likely to get worse: while 바카라사이트 overall size of 바카라사이트 young population is set to decline in 바카라사이트 next few years, that decline may be more than offset by increased demand, if 바카라사이트 trend revealed in this report continues."

David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, said 바카라사이트 figures "illustrate that we are raising aspirations and widening participation".

The Government's Comprehensive Spending Review target is to "increase participation in higher education towards 50 per cent of those aged 18 to 30, with growth of at least a percentage point every two years to 2010-11".

According to 바카라사이트 most recent government statistics, participation among this wider age group stood at 43 per cent in 2007-08.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.