More spent on disadvantaged students
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More spent on disadvantaged students
A new study has found that higher education is spending more than ever before on trying to get people from low-income households and under-represented groups to do degrees.
A new study has found that higher education is spending more than ever before on trying to get people from low-income households and under-represented groups to do degrees.
The report, published by the Office for Fair Access (Offa) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), shows that overall spending on measures for such people increased from £403.7 million in 2009/10 to £424.2 million last year.
That includes policies to encourage more people with disabilities to go to university or college. Sir Martin Harris, director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said that he is pleased with the findings.
"Overall, we are satisfied that universities and colleges made progress against the targets they set themselves for 2010-11," he said.
"We are particularly pleased with the progress made against outreach targets."
Expenditure on 'outreach' activities like summer schools or extra lessons to help pupils get better GCSE and A-level results soared by 15% last year from £39.6 million in 2009/10 to £45.7 million.
And spending on scholarships and bursaries for people from low-income households and other under-represented groups, which often helps significantly with student accommodation costs, also rose from £363.5 million in 2009/10 to £378.1 million last year.
Copyright Press Association 2012
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