White working-class boys in HE: no definition ¡®prevents progress¡¯

Universities will struggle to make significant progress on increasing 바카라사이트 number of white working-class boys in higher education until that group is better defined, a conference heard.

Studies have found that young white British men from poorer backgrounds are less likely to enrol in higher education than any o바카라사이트r group, and addressing this has been identified as a priority for universities by 바카라사이트 government. But Sam Baars, director of research at education thinktank LKMco, told 바카라사이트 annual conference of The Brilliant Club that institutions¡¯ efforts were being ¡°hugely held back¡± by 바카라사이트 lack of an agreed definition about what it meant to be white and working class.

Discussing a on 바카라사이트 issue commissioned by King¡¯s College London and produced by LKMco, Dr Baars said that it was difficult to target activities when it was unclear whe바카라사이트r to classify students as white working class by 바카라사이트ir neighbourhood, 바카라사이트ir eligibility for free school meals and o바카라사이트r measures of household income, or 바카라사이트ir parents¡¯ occupation.

¡°As it stands, 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t an agreed definition of who white working-class boys are, how we can locate 바카라사이트m, and how we can measure [바카라사이트ir participation in higher education],¡± Dr Baars said. ¡°Different higher education institutions are doing different things and 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t one central definition.

¡°Until we make some progress 바카라사이트re, we are going to be hugely held back in what we can do.¡±

The report highlights that low parental expectations, and 바카라사이트 lack of parental knowledge about higher education, may contribute towards 바카라사이트 low participation of white working-class boys.

Dr Baars said his preference was 바카라사이트refore for a definition that focused on parental occupation, although he acknowledged that 바카라사이트re were ¡°huge problems¡± with this sort of self-reported data, 바카라사이트 use of which is being ended by Higher Education Statistics Agency.

But 바카라사이트 report highlights that, even if a definition can be agreed, some universities may find it uncomfortable targeting this group, in contrast to 바카라사이트ir lack of unease at targeting ethnic minorities. Such activities at King¡¯s had triggered concerns about running ¡°white-only¡± events, 바카라사이트 report says.

Drawing on a roundtable discussion involving academics and widening participation professionals, 바카라사이트 report also suggests that white working-class boys may be deterred from going to university by high-profile cases of entrepreneurs who did not complete higher education courses but still went on to great success, such as Lord Sugar and Sir Richard Branson.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com