HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 cc734-44W
Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has assessed into the relative likelihood of students from disadvantaged backgrounds prematurely reducing their level of participation within higher education courses by dropping out of courses or by forgoing the opportunity to progress to more advanced courses; and if he will make a statement. [118146]

Alan Johnson

A number of research studies have explored the factors associated with students dropping out of higher education. Although the evidence is mixed, there is some evidence that those from lower social classes are more likely to drop out. The evidence also shows, however, that non-completion is a complex process that cannot normally be explained by any single factor. Significant factors (many of which are interrelated) include:

  • incompatibility between the student and their course or institution;
  • lack of preparation for higher education;
  • lack of commitment to the course;
  • level of prior attainment;
  • financial hardship;
  • poor academic progress;
  • health or other personal reasons;
  • age;
  • gender; and
  • whether or not the individual applied through clearing.

Studies in this area include:

  1. (i) "Right Choice? A follow up to 'Making the Right Choice"" by Connor H, Pearson R, Pollard E, Tyers C, Willison R. Universities UK 2001, available from http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pubs/report.php?id = 1427uuk
  2. (ii) "Effects of in-class variation and student rank on the probability of withdrawal: cross-section and time-series analysis for UK university students", by Arulampalam, W. Naylor, R.A. and Smith, J., presented at the Royal Economic Society Conference at the University of Warwick in March 2002. It can be downloaded from http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/ fac/economics/staff/faculty/naylor/publications/
  3. (iii) "Dropping Out: A study of early leavers from Higher Education" by Rhys Davies and Peter Elias, DfES Research Report 386 available from http://www dfes.qov.uk/research/
  4. (iv) "Higher Education: Student Retention" a report made by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to the House of Commons Education and Employment Committee, found at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200001/cmselect/cmeduemp/124/12402.htm

Applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND study from Shropshire local education authority by previous educational establishment
Year of entry
Acceptances 1997 11998 1999 2000 2001 2002 percentage change, 1998 to 2002
Numbers
Maintained2 440 337 363 332 365 402 19.3
Independent 217 207 208 208 171 197 -4.8
Further education 1,177 746 773 774 841 761 2.0
Other 158 91 92 79 100 70 -23.1
Not known 208 140 183 220 261 260 n/a
Total 2,200 1,521 1,619 1,613 1,738 1,690 11.1
Percentage change each year
Further education 3n/a 1n/a 3.6 0.2 8.7 -9.5 n/a
All establishments 3n/a 1n/a 6.4 -0.4 7.7 -2.8 n/a
1 In 1998, 'Shropshire' local education authority split into 'Shropshire' and 'The Wrekin'. As a result, there is a drop in numbers as some of the establishments took pupils who were residing in 'The Wrekin'. Hence, figures from 1997 and 1998 are not comparable.
2 Maintained includes comprehensive, grammar, sixth form centre and other maintained.
3 The percentage increase from 1996 to 1997 is not available.

Source:

UCAS.

The number of applicants accepted through UCAS from Shropshire, from further education establishments to higher education, rose by 2.0 per cent. between 1998 and 2002. For all accepted applicants from Shropshire the figure was 11.1 per cent.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students from(a) professional, (b) manual trades and (c) unskilled

The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent backgrounds, and have introduced the Excellence Challenge, including the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.

HEFCE has allocated £265 million to higher education institutions in 2003–04 for widening access and improving retention. This figure recognises the additional costs of supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds and thereby increases the likelihood that they will complete their courses successfully.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the percentage change in further education students taking up places in higher education was in each year since 1997 in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire; [119387]

(2) how many further education students took up places in higher education in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in each year since 1997. [119388]

Mr. Miliband

The available information shows the previous educational establishments of applicants accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to full-time first degree and HND courses at UK higher education institutions. The figures for Shropshire are in the table. Corresponding information for Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency is not held centrally.

backgrounds in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham, (ii) Shropshire and (iii) England took up places at university in 2002. [119389]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The Department only holds participation rates broken down by social class at national level.

The available information relates to the Age Participation Index (API) by social class. The API calculates the proportion of UK domiciled students who enter full-time HE by the age of 20 and is expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18-19 year old population.

The most recent information, for 2001/02 is in the table.

Age Participation Index (API) by the social class, 2001/02
Percentage
Social class 2001
I Professional 79
II Intermediate 50
IIIn Skilled non-manual 33
IIIm Skilled manual 21
IV Partly skilled 18
V Unskilled 15
I-IIIn 50
IIIm-V 19
Total 35

The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent backgrounds, and have introduced the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.

Huw Irranca-Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent(a) qualitative and (b) quantitive analysis has been made of the (i) barriers to entry to higher education and (ii) reasons for withdrawal from higher education before successful completion of a course of study in relation to the different socio-economic background of students. [121755]

Margaret Hodge

The Youth Cohort Study shows that around nine in 10 young people who achieve two or more A-levels by 18 progress to Higher Education by the time they are 21. Differences in participation rates between different social class groups largely reflect differences in prior attainment.

Research published by the Department in 2001 ("Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Participation by Lower Social Class groups" Connor, H. et al DfEE Research Report No. 246) looked at the factors affecting participation in HE by different social class groups. It found that among those who were qualified to enter higher education but had decided against going the main reasons were because they wanted to start work, because they did not need a higher education qualification for their chosen career or because of the expected costs involved. Other research into the factors affecting participation by different social class groups includes: UCAS (2002) "Paving the Way. Project Report. Informing change in higher education and progression partnerships with the voice of the under-represented NAO "Widening participation in higher education in England. Report by the comptroller and auditor general" HC 485 Session 2001–2002 18 January 2002. Forsyth, A. and Furlong, A. (2000) "Socioeconomic disadvantage and access to higher education" Joseph Rowntree Foundation Archer, L. (2001) "Social Class and Access to Higher Education. A Report on findings from the Social Class and Widening Participation to HE Project" University of North London. Occasional paper.

A number of research studies have explored the factors associated with students dropping out of higher education. The evidence shows that non-completion is a complex process that cannot normally be explained by any single factor. The evidence is mixed, but there is some evidence that those from lower social classes are more likely to drop out but that this seems to be largely due to other factors linked to non-completion, including:

  • levels of prior attainment;
  • incompatibility between the student and their course or institution;
  • lack of preparation for higher education;
  • lack of commitment to the course;
  • financial hardship; and
  • poor academic progress.

Research which explores the causes of non-completion includes: 'Right Choice?' A follow up to 'Making the Right Choice' by Connor H, Pearson R, Pollard E, Tyers C, Willison R. Universities UK 2001 'Effects of in-class variation and student rank on the probability of withdrawal: cross-section and time-series analysis for UK university students', by Arulampalam, W. Naylor, R.A. and Smith, J., presented at the Royal Economic Society Conference at the University of Warwick in March 2002. 'Dropping Out: A study of early leavers from Higher Education' by Rhys Davies and Peter Elias, DIES Research Report 386 'Higher Education: Student Retention' a report made by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to the House of Commons Education and Employment Committee.

The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent backgrounds. By the end of the decade they want to move towards half of all 18-30 year olds participating in HE, but within that target they are committed to ensuring that all those who can benefit from HE will be willing and able to do so, regardless of their background. 'Aimhigher' is the brand name for a range of initiatives through which Government and their key partners aim to widen participation in HE. HEFCE has allocated £265 million to higher education institutions in 2003–04 for widening access and improving retention. This figure recognises the additional costs of supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds and thereby increases the likelihood that they will complete their courses successfully.

Government have listened to those who say that people from poorer backgrounds need additional incentives and financial help to continue in full-time education. We will continue to provide a tuition fee remission grant and. from autumn 2004, full-time HE students with parents on the lowest incomes will be eligible for a new HE Grant of up to £1,000 a year for living costs. No student or parent will have to pay any up-front tuition fee—they can defer paying these until after they graduate. We are also raising the level of repayment from £10,000 to £15,000 to reduce the levels of repayment for all graduates.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many 18-20 year olds entered higher education in each year since 1990 in(a) each local education authority and (b) England; [122980]

(2) what proportion of 18-20 year olds entered higher education in each year since 1990 in (a) each local education authority and (b) England. [122981]

Margaret Hodge

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Age Participation Index (API) by social class, 1991–2001
Year of entry
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
I Professional 55 71 73 78 80 82 79 72 73 76 79
II Intermediate 36 39 42 45 46 47 48 45 45 48 50
IIIn Skilled non-manual 22 27 29 31 31 32 31 29 30 33 33
IIIm Skilled manual 11 15 17 18 18 18 19 18 18 19 21
IV Partly skilled 12 14 16 17 17 17 18 17 17 19 18
V Unskilled 6 9 11 11 12 13 14 13 13 14 15
I-IIIn 35 40 43 46 47 48 48 45 45 48 50
IIIm-V 11 14 16 17 17 18 18 17 17 18 19
Total 23 28 30 32 32 33 33 31 32 33 35

The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent backgrounds, and have introduced the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of 18-year-olds applied for entry to higher education in each year since 1996 in(a) the UK, (b) each English Government office region and (c) each education authority in the North East Government office region. [125630]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

[holding answer 14 July 2003]: The available information is from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers those aged 18, applying for full-time first degree and HMD courses at UK Higher Education Institutions. The relevant details are shown in the table.

Autumn 1996 entry
17-year-old population in 1995 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 667,593 167,131 25.0
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 59,576 15,821 26.6
East Midlands 47,141 11,369 24.1
Greater London 72,655 19,188 26.4
Merseyside 16,776 3,857 23.0
North East 30,224 6,610 21.9
North West 63,006 15,628 24.8
South East 90,233 25,811 28.6
South West 53,741 14,222 26.5

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the higher education participation rate of 18-20 year olds, broken down according to family income quintiles and deciles was in each year since 1990. [122985]

Margaret Hodge

The Department does not hold information broken down by family income. The available information relates to the Age Participation Index (API) by social class. The API calculates the proportion of UK domiciled students who enter full-time HE by the age of 20 and is expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18-19 year old population.

The available information is in the table.

Autumn 1996 entry
17-year-old population in 1995 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
West Midlands 61,470 14,961 24.3
Yorkshire 56,472 12,753 22.6
England 551,294 140,220 25.4
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 6,994 1,571 22.5
Hartlepool1 — — —
Middlesbrough1 — — —
Redcar and Cleveland1 — — —
Stockton on Tees1 — — —
Durham1 7,041 1,436 20.4
Darlington1 — — —
Northumberland 3,748 998 26.6
Gateshead 2,169 306 14.1
Newcastle upon Tyne 2,869 760 26.5
North Tyneside 2,134 448 21.0
South Tyneside 1,749 320 18.3
Sunderland 3,520 747 21.2
Tyne and Wear unknown — 24 —
England 30,224 6,610 21.9

Autumn 1997 entry
17-year-old population in 1996 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18,applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 726,736 182,035 25.0
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 65,022 17,041 26.2
East Midlands 51,262 12,367 24.1
Greater London 78,622 20,895 26.6
Merseyside 18,367 4,381 23.9
Autumn 1997 entry
17-year-old population in 1996 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
North East 33,837 7,147 21.1
North West 68,617 16,798 24.5
South East 98,011 27,988 28.6
South West 58,368 15,357 26.3
West Midlands 67,230 15,999 23.8
Yorkshire 61,742 14,397 23.3
England 601,078 152,370 25.3
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 — — —
Hartlepool1 1,243 213 17.1
Middlesbrough1 2,079 335 16.1
Redcar and Cleveland1 1,888 420 22.2
Stockton on Tees1 2,526 558 22.1
Durham1 6,587 1,470 22.3
Darlington1 1,264 244 19.3
Northumberland 4,128 1,234 29.9
Gateshead 2,495 278 11.1
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,209 635 19.8
North Tyneside 2,420 607 25.1
South Tyneside 2,026 388 19.1
Sunderland 3,971 706 17.8
Tyne and Wear unknown — 59 —
England 33,837 7,147 21.1

Autumn 1998 entry
17-year-old population in 1997 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 747,354 184,470 24.7
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 66,445 17,381 26.2
East Midlands 53,264 12,755 23.9
Greater London 81,846 21,607 26.4
Merseyside 18,559 4,380 23.6
North East 34,545 7,430 21.5
North West 70,651 17,492 24.8
South East 101,303 27,585 27.2
South West 60,366 15,416 25.5
West Midlands 69,163 16,669 24.1
Yorkshire 63,559 14,149 22.3
England 619,702 154,864 25.0
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 — — —
Hartlepool1 1,216 246 20.2
Middlesbrough1 2,149 373 17.4
Redcar and Cleveland1 2,003 395 19.7
Stockton on Tees1 2,540 593 23.3
Durham1 6,631 1,341 20.2
Darlington1 1,318 286 21.7
Northumberland 4,336 1,248 28.8
Gateshead 2,547 546 21.4
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,292 717 21.8
North Tyneside 2,559 613 24.0
South Tyneside 2,021 371 18.4
Sunderland 3,933 701 17.8
Tyne and Wear unknown — — —
England 34,545 7,430 21.5

Autumn 1999 entry
17-year-old population in 1998 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 741,836 180,038 24.3
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of first degree and HND courses domicile
Government office region
Eastern 65,851 16,584 25.2
East Midlands 52,215 12,304 23.6
Greater London 82,099 21,869 26.6
Merseyside 18,247 4,276 23.4
North East 33,561 7,230 21.5
North West 69,506 16,960 24.4
South East 100,454 27,423 27.3
South West 59,447 14,722 24.8
West Midlands 67,969 15,897 23.4
Yorkshire 62,794 13,873 22.1
England 612,142 151,138 24.7
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 — — —
Hartlepool1 1,194 213 17.8
Middlesbrough1 2,083 374 18.0
Redcar and Cleveland1 1,919 396 20.6
Stockton on Tees1 2,551 611 24.0
Durham1 6,433 1,411 21.9
Darlington1 1,296 277 21.4
Northumberland 4,217 1,119 26.5
Gateshead 2,343 450 19.2
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,212 687 21.4
North Tyneside 2,447 631 25.8
South Tyneside 2,022 376 18.6
Sunderland 3,844 685 17.8
Tyne and Wear unknown — —
England 33,561 7,230 21.5

Autumn 2000 entry
17-year-old population in 1999 18-year-old Applicants Proportion (Percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 727,022 179,584 24.7
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND course UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 64,185 16,518 25.7
East Midlands 50,605 12,140 24.0
Greater London 81,601 22,222 27.2
Merseyside 18,223 4,329 23.8
North East 33,143 7,128 21.5
North West 68,688 16,990 24.7
South East 97,596 26,332 27.0
South West 58,598 14,953 25.5
West Midlands 66,601 16,079 24.1
Yorkshire 61,719 13,569 22.0
England 600,957 150,260 25.0
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 — — —
Hartlepool1 1,201 232 19.3
Middlesbrough1 2,012 392 19.5
Redcar and Cleveland1 1,885 362 19.2
Stockton on Tees1 2,486 616 24.8
Durham1 6,345 1,309 20.6
Darlington1 1,267 283 22.3
Northumberland 4,134 1,101 26.6
Autumn 2000 entry
17-year-old population in 1999 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
Gateshead 2,456 484 19.7
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,226 717 22.2
North Tyneside 2,371 568 24.0
South Tyneside 1,973 396 20.1
Sunderland 3,786 668 17.6
Tyne and Wear unknown — — —
England 33,143 7,128 21.5

Autumn 2001 entry
17-year-old population in 2000 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 735,605 185,553 25.2
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 64,408 16,655 25.9
East Midlands 51,619 12,842 24.9
Greater London 82,236 23,059 28.0
Merseyside 18,560 4,641 25.0
North East 33,550 7,366 22.0
North West 70,541 17,524 24.8
South East 98,611 26,861 27.2
South West 59,589 15,053 25.3
West Midlands 68,725 16,953 24.7
Yorkshire 63,098 14,476 22.9
England 610,937 155,430 25.4
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1 — — —
Hartlepool1 1,226 263 21.5
Middlesbrough1 2,098 456 21.7
Redcar and Cleveland1 1,824 411 22.5
Stockton on Tees1 2,495 604 24.2
Durham1 6,540 1,363 20.8
Darlington1 1,255 291 23.2
Northumberland 4,094 1,035 25.3
Gateshead 2,541 489 19.2
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,239 888 27.4
North Tyneside 2,374 478 20.1
South Tyneside 1,959 383 19.6
Sunderland 3,905 705 18.1
Tyne and Wear unknown — — —
England 33,550 7,366 22.0

Autumn 2002 entry
17-year-old population in 2000 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
UK domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK
UK 737,343 187,539 25.4
English domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses in the UK—by Government office region of domicile
Government office region
Eastern 64,847 17,099 26.4
East Midlands 51,988 12,873 24.8
Greater London 83,668 23,436 28.0
Merseyside 18,350 4,465 24.3
North East 33,600 7,611 22.7
North West 70,695 17,653 25.0
South East 99,511 27,239 27.4
South West 60,035 15,138 25.2
West Midlands 67,817 16,967 25.0
Autumn 2002 entry
17-year-old population in 2001 18-year-old applicants Proportion (percentage)
Yorkshire 63,062 14,316 22.7
England 613,573 156,797 25.6
North East domiciled applicants, aged 18, applying through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND course in the UK—by local education authority of domicile
Region
Cleveland1
Hartlepool1 1,268 261 20.6
Middlesbrough1 2,055 450 21.9
Redcar and Cleveland1 1,949 370 19.0
Stockton on Tees1 2,552 660 25.9
Durham1 6,382 1,388 21.7
Darlington1 1,260 319 25.3
Northumberland 4,054 1,102 27.2
Gateshead 2,542 504 19.8
Newcastle upon Tyne 3,383 950 28.1
North Tyneside 2,334 467 20.0
South Tyneside 2,034 408 20.1
Sunderland 3,787 732 19.3
Tyne and Wear unknown — — —
England 33,600 7,611 22.7
1 There are discontinuities in the time series caused by local Government Reorganisation. Also, UCAS do not hold domicile breakdowns for all new authorities in the year that organisation took place and so some participation rates for new authorities are not shown until the following year

Notes

  1. 1. Participation rates have been calculated using the 17-year-old population from the previous year to reduce the distortion caused to LEA populations by the migration of students to their place of study. However, any migration, for whatever reason, at age 17 will affect the rates shown here, particularly between authorities that are geographically close, for example in the London area
  2. 2. Accepted applicants with unknown English domiciles are excluded from the figures.
  3. 3. Population figures relate to persons aged 17 as at 31 August in the year prior to entry, counts taken at the following 1 January; accepted applicants are aged 18 at 30 September in the year of entry.

Source

UCAS

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made towards achieving a 50 per cent.participation rate in higher education by 2010. [126814]

Alan Johnson

The Initial Entry Rate is the measure which we use to assess progress towards achieving the 50 per cent, participation rate in higher education.

The outturn Initial Entry Rate figure for 2001–02 is 43.5per cent.. This updates our previous best estimate of around 43 per cent..

A National Statistics Quality Review of the Initial Entry Rate, intended to improve the transparency and robustness of the measure, will be published shortly.