A report examined how universities and colleges were supporting access to higher education for young people from lower socio-economic groups.
Source: From the Margins to the Mainstream: Embedding widening participation in higher education, Universities UK (020 7419 5435) and Standing Conference of Principals
Links: Report | UUK press release | OFFA press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A report made recommendations designed to reduce unnecessary bureaucratic demands placed on all frontline staff in further education.
Source: Reducing Burdens in Colleges of Further Education, Better Regulation Commission/Cabinet Office (020 7276 2142)
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A research report into bias against university applicants from ethnic minorities recommended removing names from applications, and further investigation of admissions processes.
Source: Higher Education Admissions: Assessment of bias, Higher Education Funding Council for England (web publication only)
Links: Report | HEFCE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report examined students' attitude to debt and term-time working, and their impact on academic studies and attainment. Most students surveyed (in 2002) took a pragmatic view of debt: but they also had concerns about debts building up and paying debt off.
Source: Survey of Higher Education Students Attitudes to Debt and Term-time Working and their Impact on Attainment, Universities UK (020 7419 5435)
Links: Report | Universities UK press release | HEFCE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
Researchers questioned the negative portrayal of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who did not complete their initial university course.
Source: Jocey Quinn et al., From Life Crisis to Lifelong Learning: Rethinking working-class 'drop out' from higher education, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2005-Nov
The education inspectorate said that most further education colleges inspected were meeting their responsibilities under race relations law. Nationally, success rates for black and minority ethnic learners in FE colleges had improved at an above-average rate.
Source: Race Equality in Further Education, HMI 2463, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release
Date: 2005-Nov
Researchers examined the attitudes of the public towards paying fees for further education.
Source: MORI, Attitudes to Fees in Further Education, Research Report RW54, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Nov
An independent report called for improvements in the leadership of further education colleges, and called on the colleges to specialize in key vocational subjects.
Source: Andrew Foster, Realising the Potential: A review of the future role of further education colleges, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Summary | DfES press release | NATFHE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that the ratio of students to staff in higher education was greater than that of teachers to pupils in schools.
Source: Packing Them In: The student-to-staff ratio in UK higher education, Association of University Teachers (020 7670 9700)
Links: Report | AUT press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report make recommendations (to the government) on action that could be taken by employing organizations to provide clear accessible gateways for all graduates who wanted to pursue a career in the professions.
Source: Alan Langlands, Gateways to the Professions, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Government response
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that most employed university leavers were in graduate-level jobs four years after graduation. Only 2-3 per cent of graduates were unemployed. The overwhelming majority of graduates were satisfied with their decision to go into higher education.
Source: The Class of 99: A study of the early labour market experiences of recent graduates, Research Report 691, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf) | DfES press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
A two-year strategy was published for the learning and skills sector, designed to enable more young people aged 14-19 to stay in education or training and improve their results. There would be an 11 per cent rise in funding for those aged 16-19, allowing 46,000 more young people to learn in further education colleges and schools by 2007-08. Another priority would be to invest in the training of adults who lacked basic skills qualifications.
Source: Priorities for Success: Funding for learning and skills 2006 2008, Learning and Skills Council (0870 900 6800)
Links: Strategy (pdf) | LSC press release
Date: 2005-Oct
An article said that potential students from low-income social classes were more debt-averse than those from other social classes, and far more likely to be deterred from going to university because of their fear of debt.
Source: Claire Callender and Jonathan Jackson, 'Does the fear of debt deter students from higher education?', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 34 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
The government announced that statutory fee support for the poorest part-time students in further and higher education would increase by more than a quarter in 2006. Around 85,000 students were expected to benefit from a rise from 590 to 750 for students studying at 50 per cent of the intensity of a full-time course; and 885 to 1125 for students studying at at least 75 per cent the intensity of a full-time course.
Source: Press release 18 October 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | NATFHE press release | Universities UK press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A study tracked the progress of a group of disadvantaged young people through higher education. It found that students from low-income families were paying more for higher education, because they incurred heavier debts and received less help with repayments once they graduated.
Source: Andy Furlong and Fred Cartmel, Graduates from Disadvantaged Families: Early labour market experiences, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0505 | JRF press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that despite much progress in higher education institutions in putting equal opportunities policies into place, and various employer and government-led initiatives, there was clear evidence that inequality continued to exist in the sector s workforce.
Source: Marie Strebler and Siobhan O Regan, Non-Disclosure and Hidden Discrimination in Higher Education, Report 424, Institute for Employment Studies (01273 686751)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Oct
The government began consultation on proposals to improve the fairness of the application process for higher education, by moving to a system based on actual (rather than predicted) results. It said that pupils from the highest socio-economic groups were more likely to have their grades over-predicted.
Source: Improving the Higher Education Applications Process, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | DfES press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report said that the government had little chance of reaching its target of 50 per cent of young people entering higher education by the end of the decade.
Source: Bahram Bekhradnia, Higher Education Demand to 2015-16, Higher Education Policy Institute (01865 284450)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
A report said that if further education colleges were to receive funding on the same basis as schools, they would receive 13 per cent more than their existing income.
Source: Mick Fletcher and Glyn Owen, The Funding Gap: Funding in schools and colleges for full-time students aged 16?18, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (pdf) | Association of Colleges press release | NATFHE press release
Date: 2005-Jul
Applicants for full-time higher education courses totalled 486,915 as at 30 June 2005 - up by 8.2 per cent compared to the same point in 2004.
Source: Press release 20 July 2005, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (01242 544610)
Links: UCAS press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
Researchers found that the 'Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge' programme generally improved exam scores, but had a variable impact on the take-up of higher education among target (disadvantaged) groups.
Source: Carl Emmerson, Christine Frayne, Sandra McNally and Olmo Silva, The Early Impact of Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge on Pre-16 Outcomes - An economic evaluation, Research Report 652, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
An interim evaluation report said the 'Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge' programme was associated with higher levels of achievement at key stages 3 and 4 (ages 14 and 16): but the association with raised aspirations, in terms of stated intentions to enter higher education, was less clear.
Source: Marian Morris and Sarah Golden, Evaluation of Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge - Interim Report 2005, Research Report 648, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A report presented findings from in-depth studies of ten 'Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge' partnerships. The partnerships had improved working relationships between institutions, within and across educational sectors.
Source: Michelle Judkins, Sarah Golden, Eleanor Ireland and Marian Morris, Implementing Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge - The Experiences of Ten Partnerships, Research Report 646, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
Researchers said that, for some young people, programmes (such as 'Aimhigher: Excellence Challenge') designed to raise awareness and aspirations in relation to higher education were insufficient to overcome barriers that appeared to result from a lack of motivation and concerns about incurring debt.
Source: Marian Morris and Simon Rutt, Aspirations to Higher Education: One Year On, Research Report 651, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
The government announced a review of the arrangements for the delivery of government financial support to higher education students, and its collection from borrowers.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 7 June 2005, column 43WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-Jun
A report highlighted the lack of a common understanding of the term diversity within further education and training organizations, and called for swift action to address concerns about the low priority given to diversity issues.
Source: Jacky Lumby et al., Leadership, Development and Diversity in the Learning and Skills Sector, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (pdf) | LSDA press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
An audit report said that the frameworks to plan and monitor the further education sector in England were likely to support systematic planning.
Source: Securing Strategic Leadership for the Learning and Skills Sector in England, HC 29 (Session 2005-06), National Audit Office (020 7798 7000)
Links: Report (pdf) | NAO press release
Date: 2005-May
A new book examined the overlapping effects of social class, ethnicity, and gender in the process of choosing which university to attend.
Source: Diane Reay, Miriam David and Stephen Ball, Degrees of Choice: Social class, race and gender in higher education, Trentham Books (01782 745567)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Apr
A briefing note said that, despite lower initial debt levels, the majority of graduates would be required to make bigger total lifetime debt repayments under the Conservatives than under Labour.
Source: Lorraine Dearden, Emla Fitzsimons and Alissa Goodman, Higher Education Funding Policy: A guide to the election debate, Election Briefing Note 13, Institute for Fiscal Studies (web publication only)
Links: Briefing Note (pdf)
Date: 2005-Apr
Provisional data were published on initial participation rates for first-time (English-domiciled) entrants aged 17-30 to higher education courses between 1999-2000 and 2003-04. The male participation rate showed no increase over the period: but the rate for females increased from 41 to 43 per cent.
Source: Participation Rates in Higher Education for Academic Years 1999/2000-2003/2004 (Provisional), Statistical First Release 14/2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2005-Apr
Researchers found that graduates from old universities got better, more highly paid jobs than those from new universities: but those from the most prestigious universities fared the best.
Source: Sally Power, Geoff Whitty and Tony Edwards, Success Sustained?, Institute of Education/University of London (020 7612 6050)
Links: IOE press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A report highlighted the need for better awareness of alternative routes to higher education through vocational courses and advanced apprenticeships.
Source: Helen Connor and Brenda Little, Vocational Ladders or Crazy Paving?: Making your way to higher levels, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (pdf) | LSDA press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
An interim progress report was published on the introduction of top-up and variable fees for higher education in Wales.
Source: An Independent Study into the Devolution of the Student Support System and Tuition Fee Regime in Wales (The Rees Review), Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | WAG press release | AUT press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A paper explored the extent to which credit constraints might affect individuals choices to stay in full-time education past the age of 16 and to complete higher education qualifications, and how this had varied between individuals born in 1958 and in 1970. It was suggested that policies aimed at reducing the possible impact of short-run credit constraints on education decisions should target individuals at the age of 16 (or possibly earlier) when they were making decisions about whether or not to continue in full-time education (such as the education maintenance allowances programme), rather than at 18 when individuals were making decisions about higher education.
Source: Lorraine Dearden, Leslie McGranahan and Barbara Sianesi, The Role of Credit Constraints in Educational Choices: Evidence from the NCDS and BCS70, DP48, Centre for the Economics of Education/London School of Economics (020 7955 7285)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
A report examined the extent of the inequality of access to higher education for young people from affluent and poorer areas throughout England. A study of participation rates by students in every region, constituency and ward from 1994 to 2000 revealed that the most advantaged 20 per cent of young people were up to 6 times more likely to enter higher education than the most disadvantaged 20 per cent.
Source: Young Participation in Higher Education, Higher Education Funding Council for England (0117 931 7317)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary | HEFCE press release | NATFHE press release | Universities UK press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
A paper provided empirical evidence on the socio-economic gap in participation in higher education, for the period spanning the introduction of tuition fees in 1998. Before tuition fees, there was substantial social class educational inequality in higher education, but it occurred largely as a result of inequalities earlier in the education system. There was evidence, however, of a widening of the social class gap in higher education itself in the period after the introduction of tuition fees.
Source: Fernando Galindo-Rueda, Oscar Marcenaro-Gutierrez and Anna Vignoles, The Widening Socio-economic Gap in UK Higher Education, DP44, Centre for the Economics of Education/London School of Economics (020 7955 7285)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
The number of first-year students at publicly-funded higher education institutions passed the million mark for the first time in the 2003-04 academic year. There were 1,012,215 first-year students, compared to 977,010 in 2002-03 - a rise of 3.6 per cent. Employers said that the figures were 'bad news for British businesses': employers did not want more young people going to university just to meet the government's 50 per cent target - they needed young people equipped with the right skills for the workplace.
Source: Press release 19 January 2005, Higher Education Statistics Agency (01242 255577) | Press release 19 January 2005, British Chambers of Commerce (020 7654 5808)
Links: HESA press release | BCC press release
Date: 2005-Jan
A study found that graduates who left university in the summer of 2004 were more gloomy about their job prospects than any in the previous decade; and that although the number of estimated graduate vacancies increased in 2004, there were still only enough such positions for 1 in 3 university-leavers.
Source: High Fliers Research, The Graduates of 2004: A disillusioned generation?, PricewaterhouseCoopers (020 7583 5000)
Links: Report (pdf) | PWC press release
Date: 2005-Jan
An article said that top-up fees might triple student debt compared with the situation before fees were introduced, but raise it by 70 per cent compared with the existing position. It also suggested that disabled students and students who did not receive help from their family would be hit more severely.
Source: Hilary Metcalf, 'Paying for university: the impact of increasing costs on student employment, debt and satisfaction', National Institute Economic Review191, January 2005, National Institute for Economic and Social Research (020 7654 1901)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
