Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, said:
“A lot of money, £392 million over five years up to 2007-08, was allocated to the universities to increase the proportion of working class youngsters who go on to university courses. It is dismaying that government seems to have little idea what the universities have been doing with this money. Certainly, progress has been poor. The rate at which working class young people participate in higher education has increased by only two percentage points.
Under-representation
“The newer universities are doing better than the more traditional ones, especially those in the Russell group, at attracting young people living in deprived areas. That is not surprising - but the universities that consistently fail to improve the proportion of under-represented groups in their student population should sign up to improvement plans agreed with the Funding Council.
“It is of crucial importance to raise the aspirations of talented pupils from backgrounds where going to university is considered “not for people like us” or the idea of doing so is never even entertained. Every school should have contact with at least one university. And every university should engage with schools in disadvantaged areas. There is also a crying need for good face-to-face guidance for younger pupils on what they would need to do to gain access to the right university course and what financial support is available.
Access for all
“No pupil from a deprived area should miss out on a potentially life-changing university education simply as a result of poor or non-existent guidance and advice.”
Mr Leigh was speaking as the Committee published its 4th Report of this Session which, on the basis of evidence from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Office for Fair Access, examined progress in widening participation in higher education.
Read the report in full