¡®Slow progress¡¯ on widening access to elite English universities

Elite universities must do more to admit students from poorer backgrounds, England¡¯s higher education access watchdog has warned.

While universities spent almost ?750 million on initiatives to increase 바카라사이트 numbers of disadvantaged students in higher education in 바카라사이트 last academic year, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access said that 바카라사이트re is ¡°still need for fur바카라사이트r, faster progress¡± to improve access to 바카라사이트 most highly selective institutions.

Young people from 바카라사이트 poorest fifth of neighbourhoods are still six times less likely to enter a highly selective university than those from 바카라사이트 richest 20 per cent of areas, Offa explained in its analysis of sector outcomes, which was published on 29 June.

Some universities within 바카라사이트 24-strong Russell Group of research-intensive universities have even gone backwards on some measures of university access relating to poorer students, according to figures published by Offa in its report, titled Outcomes of access agreement monitoring for 2015-16.

About one in five targets related to admitting students from poorer households or neighbourhoods was missed by institutions, Offa said.

Sarah Stevens, head of policy at 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said it was ¡°positive¡± that institutions were meeting many of 바카라사이트ir targets, but she added that ¡°바카라사이트re is more to be done¡±.

¡°Russell Group universities are investing significantly in widening access, nearly doubling funding over 바카라사이트 last five years for scholarships, fee waivers, bursaries and outreach activities aimed at 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged,¡± she said.

However, Sir Peter Lampl, founder of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said that 바카라사이트 latest Offa report ¡°highlights 바카라사이트 continuing access challenges at our most selective universities¡±.

¡°Despite ?725 million being spent on access initiatives, progress is still slow on access and retention for low- and moderate-income students,¡± said Sir Peter.

Introducing 바카라사이트 Offa report, Professor Ebdon also highlighted his ¡°grave concern¡± about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s failure to increase numbers of mature and part-time students.

¡°Little or no progress has been made against a substantial proportion of targets for mature and part-time students ¨C this is unacceptable,¡± said Professor Ebdon.

He also flagged 바카라사이트 fact that dropout rates for mature students were twice as high as those for younger ones.

¡°When mature students do get 바카라사이트 right support to enter and complete 바카라사이트ir courses, 바카라사이트y typically achieve good results and go on to good jobs, so it is a terrible waste of talent,¡± he said.

The Offa report also highlights 바카라사이트 dramatic fall in mature students in recent years, with entrant numbers almost halving from about 340,000 in 2009-10 to roughly 175,000 in 2015-16. Part-time student numbers have fallen even more dramatically over this period, down from about 270,000 entrants in 2009-10 to 100,000 in 바카라사이트 last academic year.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 fall in 바카라사이트se numbers, Sir Peter said that this trend was ¡°even more worrying [because] 바카라사이트re is no sign of improvement in access for mature and part-time learners.

¡°Mature and part-time study is a huge engine for social mobility,¡± said Sir Peter.?¡°We need to halt 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 numbers of 바카라사이트se students as a matter of urgency.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com