Recruit poor white students or be named and shamed, universities told

UNIVERSITIES must recruit more white working- class students or face sanctions, the Education Secretary warned yesterday.

Damian Hinds said vice chancellors were not doing enough to admit disadvantaged groups – often those in poor white regional towns.

He said there was no reason why children in places such as Sunderland or Somerset should have less of a chance of gaining a degree.

Official figures show that disadvantaged white pupils are the least likely group to attend university, particularly at leading institutions.

Mr Hinds said: ‘ Whilst potential and talent is evenly spread, the opportunities to make the most of it sometimes aren’t. It’s simply unacceptable for universities not to act to increase their efforts to reach out to potential talent across the country.

‘I have a simple message to universities: look at your own admissions policies and work out what you can do to ensure that your university is open to everyone who has the potential, no matter their background or where they are from.

‘I see no reason why race or background should be a factor in whether a student can access and benefit from the opportunities that higher education provides.

‘We must all share a collective endeavour to tear down these barriers where they exist.’

He said he wanted to see material progress in closing the access gap in the next few years, with failure leading to action by the Office for Students. The regulator can impose sanctions such as fines or, as a last resort, deregistration, which would effectively mean closure.

Mr Hinds also wants to see universities doing more to support black students during their studies, as they are more likely to drop out after their first year than any other group.

His comments come as the OfS publishes plans to crack down on universities that admit a disproportionate number of wealthy students.

It aims to eliminate the gaps in access and student success at all universities within 20 years.

As part of a raft of measures, the OfS will begin to publish data showing the makeup of student bodies at each university. It means those who admit too few disadvantaged students will be named and shamed.

In addition, it will assess universities on whether their plans to improve access are credible and ‘achieve outcomes’.

The OfS also hopes to eliminate the gap in entry rates at the most selective universities between advantaged and disadvantaged students.

Another target is to close the gap between black and white students getting top marks, and a similar gap between disabled and non-disabled students.

Mr Hinds added: ‘We know university is a key determinant of future success so I want to see the access and successful participation plans that universities are beginning to produce next year take significant action. Access and participation plans should emphasise successful participation that is completion of the full course, followed by quality employment.’

Sarah Stevens, head of policy at the Russell Group of elite universities, said: ‘Our universities will continue to play our part in delivering this agenda.

‘Our universities currently spend an average £1,100 per student per year on programmes to widen participation.

‘In order to achieve these new targets, universities’ efforts need to be part of a wider programme to address the complex causes of inequality throughout the whole education system right from the early years.’

Meanwhile, figures from admissions body UCAS show that four in five students who applied for university with only three D grades managed to get a place this year.

A total of 4,845 youngsters with these low exam results started courses in higher education this autumn – 81 per cent of the 5,981 who applied.

The number of students with DDD accepted on to courses has increased by 29 per cent since 2013, when only 3,763 got places.

A glut of places has been produced by a dip in the population of 18-year- olds and the removal of a numbers cap several years ago. This has meant some less popular universities may have to lower their entry requirements to fill courses.

‘Tearing down the barriers’