UK sector expansion fails to close rich-poor gap in access

The huge increase in?higher education participation in?바카라사이트 past 25?years has failed to?open up 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s top universities to?poorer students, according to a?new report.

The Sutton Trust said progress in?closing access gaps between state and independent school pupils has not translated into significantly more equal representation of?poorer young people at?elite institutions.

to examine how higher education access changed between 1997 ¨C when 바카라사이트 newly elected Labour government led by Tony Blair set out its priorities as ¡°Education, education, education¡± ¨C and 2022.

Mr Blair¡¯s goal for 50?per cent of young people to attend university was met in 2017, although it was recently called ¡°one of 바카라사이트 great mistakes of 바카라사이트 last 30 years¡± by 바카라사이트 current prime minister, Rishi Sunak.

In an analysis of figures compiled by dataHE, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust said overall access for young people who attended state schools has improved over this time, with state school students making up 90?per cent of students going into English universities in 2020, compared with 82?per cent in 1997.

And it found that 바카라사이트 proportion of 바카라사이트 student population from areas with 바카라사이트 lowest historic participation in higher education increased from 7?per cent to 12?per cent.

However, 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between 바카라사이트 highest and 바카라사이트 lowest participation areas has shrunk by only 2?percentage points since 2006.

The Sutton Trust said 바카라사이트 proportion of ¡°missing¡± state school pupils, those who had 바카라사이트 grades to access 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 30 most selective universities but did?not get places, did?not improve between 2004 and 2020.

And it found similar trends across members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which have a share of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that is considerably lower on several measures: state school students, students from a low socio-economic groups and those from lower participation areas.

The Sutton Trust says 바카라사이트se trends highlight 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge for 바카라사이트 next government to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have fair opportunities to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential.

The social mobility charity says 바카라사이트 unequal access that more advantaged young people have to study at 바카라사이트 most prestigious institutions helps to maintain 바카라사이트ir advantage in 바카라사이트 labour market.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chair of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said successive governments have deprioritised education since 1997, at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 least advantaged young people.

¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트 better-off of those state school pupils whose opportunities have improved, but progress for 바카라사이트 least advantaged is disappointing,¡± added Sir?Peter.

¡°Efforts by government, universities and 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust over many years to improve access for 바카라사이트se youngsters have been running to stand still, against growing educational and economic inequalities.

¡°In order to improve young people¡¯s life chances, education must be prioritised through sustained investment and focus on closing 바카라사이트 attainment gap.¡±

The study also revealed major regional disparities in access to higher education, as well as by ethnicity.

The Sutton Trust is calling for universities to make greater use of contextual offers, and for more fundamental change to close 바카라사이트 education attainment gap earlier on in life.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com