Access to Higher Education: The London Challenge. Full report.

A new report written by the Head of AccessHE, Graeme Atherton, shows that universities in London invest nearly £180m in social mobility. To Access the full report please click here.

Universities in London invest more than those in any other area of the country on widening access to higher education and admit more learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds but significant differences in HE entry exist across the capital, learners from black & minority ethnic groups may be failing to reach their potential and over 20,000 graduates are not in education, employment and training argues a new report released to mark the first ‘Access to Higher Education in London Week’ from 7th July to the 11th July.

The new report ‘Access to Higher Education: The London Challenge’ shows that over 70,000 students in receipt of a full student grant enter London Higher Education institutions each year but that there are big disparities for learners from London with a ‘postcode lottery’ for those claiming free school meals. While in some boroughs over 40% go onto HE in others, including some of those who are the highest performing educationally in the country less than 20% do . It also shows that London universities admit a more ethnically diverse range of learners than perhaps any other city in the world, but there may be hidden pockets of disadvantage as specific ethnic groups may not be progressing and research shows worrying levels of under-achievement for some learners from black and minority ethnic groups.