Universities: Equality
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has been made by (i) his department, (ii) the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and (iii) the Office for Students of adequacy of the number of white British working class students that participate in (a) Russell Group and (b) Oxbridge diversity schemes.
Answered by Department for Education
Higher education (HE) must be a gateway for all who have the ability and desire to pursue it. We have called on providers to play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students.
HE providers, including Russell Group universities, are autonomous and responsible for their own access and diversity initiatives. However, providers that wish to charge higher tuition fee levels must have an Access and Participation Plan (APP) approved by the Office for Students (OfS).
APPs set out the steps a provider will take to improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups. In developing their APPs, providers are expected to consider the OfS’ Equality of Opportunity Risk Register, which identifies groups at greater risk of experiencing unequal outcomes, including white students and students from lower socio-economic groups.
The Quality Assurance Agency regulates the Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma but is independent of government.
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