Students from most affluent areas ten times more likely to win place at leading university: Prospects of poorer pupils ...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/12/2014 - 21:58

By
Laura Clark, Education Correspondent

Pupils from the most affluent areas are nearly 10 times more likely to win a place at a leading university than those from the poorest, a new study has revealed.

The prospects of disadvantaged youngsters have barely changed since 2010 despite a series of multi-million pound initiatives aimed at easing their path to the most academically selective universities.

The research also highlighted concerns over low numbers of working-class men going to university and a sharp drop in older ‘second-chance’ applicants’ who missed out on university as teenagers.

The study, from the Independent Commission on Fees, was designed to assess the impact of Coalition university funding reforms including £9,000-a-year tuition fees.

Universities wishing to charge the maximum fee must agree targets and funding to encourage the poorest pupils to apply.

The study found that youngsters from the most advantaged fifth of areas in England – those where high numbers of residents already have a university education – were 9.5 times more likely than those from the least advantaged fifth to have won a place at a top university in 2013.

This was barely an improvement on 2010, when rich pupils were 9.8 times more likely to go to a prestigious university. The study looked at entry to the 13 most academically selective universities in the country.

‘The gap in application and entry rates between advantaged and disadvantaged students has narrowed slightly, but remains unacceptably large - particularly for the most selective universities,’ the study said.

The research – commissioned by the Sutton Trust education charity - also examined sex differences and found that in 2013, 21 per cent more 18-year-old women entered university than men of the same age.

It warns that the divide is largest among the poorest university applicants, with disadvantaged boys particularly under-represented.

While application rates among 18-year-olds have recovered following a dip triggered by the introduction in 2012 of higher fees, the picture for mature and part-time students is ‘much bleaker’.

Will Hutton, chair of the Commission, said: ‘Whilst we welcome the recovery in the proportion of 18-year-olds taking up places at university after the introduction of higher fees in 2012, serious gaps in access to university remain.

‘Our research shows that advantaged students are nearly 10 times more likely to attend a top university than their disadvantaged peers. Young men from disadvantaged areas are particularly badly affected and remain under-represented in applications to all universities.

‘Mature student numbers also appear to be disproportionately affected by the student fee changes with their numbers remaining below 2010 levels. The number of students on part-time courses has fallen dramatically.

‘Since many mature and part-time students come from less advantaged backgrounds this is an issue we must address if we are to ensure fair access to university for all.’

Meanwhile a poll showed some support for the idea of students from disadvantaged homes being charged lower tuition fees.

A Business Department spokesman said: ‘It is encouraging that applications to higher education from 18-year-olds are at an all-time high - including the applications rates for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

‘Prospective students recognise the lifelong value of a university degree, but we are not complacent and there is still more to do - particularly by some of the higher tariff institutions.’