HC Deb 20 July 1993 vol 229 cc108-9W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has on recent changes or trends in the socio-economic background of students; and if he will provide an estimate of the relative chances of entering full-time higher education among the present cohort of 18-year-olds relative to the socio-economic group of their parents.

Mr. Boswell

The Department has two main sources of information about the socio-economic background of students in higher education: the youth cohort study and the higher education admissions agencies, UCCA and PCAS. The youth cohort study is a sample survey of young people at ages 16, 17 and 18. Universities Central Council on Admissions and Polytechnics Central Admissions System data cover entrants of all ages to full-time and sandwich courses of higher education, but not all applicants provide information about their socioeconomic background. PCAS collected information on socio-economic background for the first time in 1991–92. The most recent available figures are shown in the tables.

The proportion of all young people entering full-time and sandwich higher education reached the record level of 28 per cent. in 1992. The Department does not have the necessary information to estimate relative participation rates for different socio-economic groups in that year.

Youth Cohort Study: 1988–89 academic year
Percentage distribution by socio-economic group of Percentage of young people from each socio-economic group in higher education at age 18
All 18 year olds 18 year olds in higher education
Professional 8 18 35
Managerial 17 24 21
Other non-manual 21 29 21
Skilled manual 38 24 9
Semi and unskilled manual 16 6 5

Percentage distribution by socio-economic class of home applicants accepted through UCCA:
Academic Year 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
Professional 21 20 19
Intermediate 49 50 50
Skilled non-manual 11 11 11
Skilled manual 12 12 12
Partly skilled and unskilled manual 7 7 7
Percentage distribution by socio-economic class of home applicants admitted through PCAS:
Academic Year 1991–92 1992–93
Professional 12 13
Intermediate 46 42
Skilled non-manual 13 13
Skilled manual 18 20
Partly skilled and unskilled manual 12 11