According to the Department for Education, this year saw 180,000 18-year-old students guaranteed their first choice of university, the most on record and a 20 per cent increase on 2019, when exams were last sat.
This includes a record 23,220 disadvantaged 18-year-olds set to go to university this year, added the DfE.
But analysis by the Sutton Trust has revealed that the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers accessing university has widened over the last three years, from 23 percentage points in 2019, before the Covid health crisis, to 25.6 percentage points this year.
“The government must work to ensure that students from all backgrounds, in all areas of the country, have the opportunity to succeed,” Trust chairman Peter Lampl has warned.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
