Student wealth gap increases as affluent continue to win more places
THE gap between the richest and the poorest attending university has widened, according to new figures.
Ucas, the clearing house for university admissions, said the statistics show that since 2014 the number of young people from the most-deprived areas going to university has increased by 0.8 per cent. The equivalent figure from the least-deprived areas is more than three times that at 2.6 per cent.
The Ucas figures show four in 10 people from wealthier areas are able to access university.
Just one in 10 from the most deprived backgrounds gain entry.
Scottish Labour said the statistics contradicted Nicola Sturgeon’s comments at First Minister’s Questions earlier this month which suggested the gap was narrowing.
The party called on the Scottish Government to keep their promises to reduce the attainment gap and said cuts in the Scottish Budget would make the situation worse.
Education spokesman Iain Gray said: “Nicola Sturgeon has promised that every child, regardless of their background, would have an equal chance of going to university.
“But those chances have become less equal while she’s been First Minister. It goes to show that warm words from the SNP aren’t enough, closing the attainment gap will take more investment in our schools.
“Labour will continue to make the case for a 50p top rate of tax on those earning more than £150,000 a year to invest in closing the attainment gap Scotland.”
The Scottish Government said the Ucas figures recorded the highest university entry rate for 18-year-olds from Scotland’s 20 per cent most deprived areas.
A spokeswoman said: “In 2006, 18-year-olds from the 20 per cent least-deprived areas were 5.8 times as likely to enter university as those from the 20 per cent most deprived areas, and this has decreased to 3.9 times in 2016.
She added: “It is welcome news this is heading in the right direction.
“But we are committed to making further and faster progress in schools across on fairer access to higher education for all, as the recommendations made by the commission on widening access are implemented.”
Education chiefs say they have appointed Professor Peter Scott as commissioner for fair access to higher education in Scotland, who will support disadvantaged learners and drive change across the system.
The spokeswoman added: “Professor Scott’s appointment is part of a wider range of work aimed at ensuring that, by 2030, students from the 20 per cent most-deprived communities will represent 20 per cent of entrants to Scottish universities.”