1. Fair access to higher education: where are we now and what’s next?
21st February 2017
David Barrett
Assistant Director

2. Progress so far…

3. Entry rates: The number of 18 year olds from low participation neighbourhoods has increased dramatically and the gap is narrowing
73%
19.5%
11.2%
Source: UCAS (End of cycle 2016, 18 year olds)

4. Higher tariff institutions: the number of 18 year olds from low participation neighbourhoods entering higher tariff institutions has risen sharply since 2012
3.6%
38%
Source: UCAS (End of cycle 2016, 18 year olds)

5. Ten years of progress…what’s behind it?
Increase in outreach
Student lifecycle approach
More tailored, evidence- based spend
More collaborative work

6. Ten years of progress…what’s behind it?
Long-term focus, commitment and resource
From Government, regulators and funders and the sector
High level and bottom- up

7. Access agreement expenditure Institutions are predicted to spend £833
Access agreement expenditure Institutions are predicted to spend £833.7m through access agreements by , an increase of almost 50% since
Predicted
Source: access agreements

8. Balance of access agreement expenditure: Institutions are reducing spend on financial support and increasing spend on access, student success and progression activities
Predicted
Source: access agreements

9. Progress on access agreement targets: for institutions with an access agreement in , 87% of statistical, and 92% of activity-based targets were progressing positively
Source: Internal OFFA data (from monitoring)

10. Continuing challenges

11. Government’s fair access goal: Achieving the Government’s goal to double the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education by 2020 will require a step change in progress
Source: Actual Entry Rates – UCAS End of Cycle 2016

12. Mature and Part-time students: The numbers of mature (over 21) and part-time students has been declining rapidly – by 46% and 61% respectively from to
Source: HESA

13. Degree outcomes by ethnic group: there are significant differences in degree outcomes between White and BME students
Source: HEFCE

14. Graduate outcomes by ethnic group: The proportion of BME graduates in professional employment or further study is significantly lower than White graduates
Difference in professional employment and further study rate for students graduating in , by ethnicity
Source: HEFCE

15. Graduate outcomes (professional employment): The proportion of graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds in professional employment or further study is significantly lower than the most advantaged group, even after considering other factors
Difference in professional employment and further study rate for students graduating in
Source: HESA data published by HEFCE

16. Looking ahead

17. Department for Education
Bringing together higher education providers with schools, colleges, and apprenticeships will enable more progress across the student lifecycle
Increased focus on the role universities play in raising attainment in schools

18. Higher Education and Research Bill
The creation of the Office for Students bring opportunities for fair access
Potential to improve coherence and increase resources available to access and participation
The increased importance of the role of the Director of Access and Participation within the Office for Students.
Access and participation permeates throughout the Office for Students

19. Continuous improvement
In your what you do
In how you evaluation and evidence it
In data, analysis and research
In your continued commitment (individually and as a sector)
Social Mobility Advisory Group

20. And finally…