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Indicators of progress: Definitions, data, baseline and trends information

Milestone 16: Increasing the proportion of students from under-represented, disadvantaged groups and areas in higher education compared with the overall student population in higher education

Indicators

This milestone is measured by two indicators: one that measures participation by social classes III Manual, IV and V and the other by participation from low participation neighbourhoods. Low participation neighbourhoods are based on neighbourhoods built up by clustering postcodes with similar characteristics. Proportions of people under 21 who entered higher education from these neighbourhoods have been calculated. Areas for which this participation rate was less than two thirds of the UK average have been defined as low participation neighbourhoods. Figures are given on young (under 21) home full-time first degree entrants, all young full-time undergraduate entrants, mature (21 and over) home full-time undergraduate entrants and home part-time undergraduate entrants.

The third table gives data from UCAS which shows the trend of accepted Scottish applicants to UK higher education institutions over the last 5 years, broken down by socio-economic group.

Availability of data

These figures are taken from 'Performance Indicators in higher education', a report published in December 2001 by the UK higher education funding councils, and is available through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) website (www.shefc.ac.uk). Data is available from the 1997-98 academic year.

Social Classes III Manual, IV and V

Table 16a shows that some 24% of young people taking full-time first degrees at Scottish higher education institutions are from families who are classified as social classes III Manual, IV and V. This does not take account of the changing populations of people in social classes IIIM, IV, and V, and is not calculated as a participation rate.

Table 16a: Participation in higher education: Social classes III Manual, IV and V

Source : Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Council
Note: "Undergraduate" includes HE study at sub-degree level e.g. DipHE, HND.
Figures are not available for mature and part-time entrants.
Home means 'UK' not 'Scottish'.

Low participation neighbourhoods

Table 16b shows that around 18% of young people taking full-time first degrees at Scottish higher education institutions are from low participation neighbourhoods. Of mature (21 and over) full-time undergraduates entrants around 15% are from low participation neighbourhoods.

Table 16b : Participation in higher education : Low participation neighbourhood

Source : Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Council
Note : Home means 'UK' not 'Scottish'.
Mature and part-time undergraduate entrants are defined as those who have no previous HE qualification

UCAS Socio-Economic Groups

UCAS figures (table 16c) show that the proportion of accepted applicants from socio-economic groups III, IV and V from Scotland to UK HEIs has remained constant over the last 5 years. The proportions from social classes I and II appear to be in slow decline, while the proportion of accepted applicants from social classes IV and V have remained constant at under 10%. It must be remembered that these figures only relate to full-time undergraduate students and so do not give the full picture. There has been an increase in the proportion of missing data which may affect the quality of these statistics.

Table 16c: Percentage of accepted Scottish domiciled applicants at UK Higher Education Institutions by socio-economic group

Source: UCAS

Note: These figures are as at January of the start of the academic session. For example, the figure for 2001 refers to applications as at January 2001 for the 2001-02 academic session.

Socio-Economic Groups

I & II - Professional and Intermediate

III - Skilled non-manual and skilled manual

IV and V - Partly skilled and unskilled

Missing - information refused or not provided.

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