Universities: Admissions
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2026 to Question 128593 on Universities: Admissions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of using of POLAR3 and POLAR4 data under contextual admissions policies on the level of university applicants (a) accepted and (b) rejected in whole or in part on the basis of living in that middle-layer super output area or in an associated postcode.
Answered by Josh MacAlister
The department supports the aspiration of every person who has the aptitude and interest in pursuing higher education (HE), regardless of their background and personal circumstances. HE providers have an important role to play in widening opportunity, and they can do this by using the right information to assess each student. While HE providers are autonomous and responsible for their own admissions decisions, Government takes a close interest in ensuring the system is fair, extends opportunity, and delivers the best outcomes for students.
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