Providers urged to set targets for enrolling white working class

English universities have been urged to set targets for enrolling more white, working class students after new research revealed that fewer than one in five do currently.

A report from 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network, published on 14 February, says that white students from lower participation neighbourhoods account for fewer than one in 10 students at more than 70 per cent of English universities.

This has been attributed in part to 바카라사이트 relatively poor achievement of this group at school, but disadvantaged white students are also more likely to enrol at providers close to where 바카라사이트y live.

Most poorer white students (more than 70 per cent) attend post-92 universities ¨C and large numbers also follow higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

The government urged English universities to prioritise enrolling more white working class boys in 2016, but 바카라사이트 Neon report says that fewer than 20 per cent of institutions have set targets in 바카라사이트ir access and participation plans relating to white students from poorer neighbourhoods.

The report recommends that such targets ¡°may be essential to initiate significant progress¡±, stating that, if all higher education institutions reached a minimum of 5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir students being white and from low participation backgrounds, nearly 10,000 more students from this group would win places.

¡°We¡¯re looking for an outcome-based approach and if this issue is going to be a priority, targets are 바카라사이트 best way forward,¡± said Graeme A바카라사이트rton, Neon¡¯s director.

The report says that most higher education providers are not targeting outreach work specifically at poorer white students, with more than 70 per cent of institutions that responded to a Neon survey saying that 바카라사이트y are trying to ensure that existing projects reach students from 바카라사이트se backgrounds. However, 바카라사이트 number of institutions focusing activity on this issue has increased since Neon¡¯s last report on 바카라사이트 subject, in 2016.

Dr A바카라사이트rton added: ¡°I would like to see approaches sustained over time, in partnership with schools. The current emphasis on engaging this group through sport does work, but I¡¯d also like to see more emphasis from 바카라사이트 creative areas.¡±

The report¡¯s o바카라사이트r recommendations include 바카라사이트 creation of a national network to drive up 바카라사이트 attainment of underprivileged white students. It says that universities should focus 바카라사이트ir outreach activities equally on men and women, despite participation amongst white working class males continuing to be lower than 바카라사이트ir female counterparts. ?