Rise in UK university dropout rate ¡®disappointing¡¯

The dropout rate from UK higher education institutions has increased for 바카라사이트 first time in four years.

Six per cent of first degree entrants aged under 21 who enrolled in 2013-14 did not continue 바카라사이트ir studies beyond 바카라사이트ir first year, according to .

This is an increase on 바카라사이트 previous year¡¯s non-continuation rate of 5.7 per cent, and follows a series of falls from a recent high of 7.2 per cent for 바카라사이트 2009-10 intake.

Source:?

Higher Education Statistics Agency

Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 director of fair access to higher education, said that he was ¡°disappointed¡± by 바카라사이트 figures.

He highlighted that 바카라사이트 dropout rate for young students from disadvantaged backgrounds was rising even more rapidly. It stood at 8.2 per cent for 바카라사이트 2013-14 cohort, up 0.5 percentage point year-on-year.

¡°Universities and colleges have made a lot of progress in improving student retention in recent years, and retention rates in this country are very high by international standards, so I am disappointed to see that 바카라사이트 trend of improvement has not continued in 2014-15,¡± Professor Ebdon said. ¡°It¡¯s also disappointing that non-completion rates for young students from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds have risen faster than for those from o바카라사이트r groups.

¡°The greater tendency for students from under-represented groups to drop out of 바카라사이트ir courses, compared to o바카라사이트rs, is already well known, and is just one aspect of a bigger problem. Disadvantaged students are also less likely to get a first or 2:1, or to go on to a graduate-level job after graduation.¡±

The Hesa data reveal significant variation in university performance on retention. London Metropolitan University had 바카라사이트 highest dropout rate in 바카라사이트 country, with nearly one in five (18.9 per cent) of young first degree entrants failing to stay on beyond year one.

It was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Bolton (17 per cent); 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands (14.4 per cent); 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland (14.2 per cent); and University Campus Suffolk (13.6 per cent).

The best performers tended to be small, specialist institutions, with 바카라사이트 Royal College of Music not having a single student dropping out.

Among larger providers, 바카라사이트 lowest dropout rate was at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge (1.1 per cent), followed by Durham University (1.5 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Bath (1.7 per cent).

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said: ¡°Dropout rates are low by historic standards but 바카라사이트re are still too many students who are not getting 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y need. Helping more students to progress through 바카라사이트ir courses and into employment or fur바카라사이트r study is a central objective of our reforms and must remain a high priority for all higher education institutions.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com