Jo Johnson said too many students are ‘missing out’ and said that universities need to ‘go further’British High Commission, New Delhi

More white men from disadvantaged backgrounds ought to be encouraged to go to university, the government has announced.

Under new guidance being issued by the Office for Fair Access, English universities will be required to focus on getting more white working-class boys into higher education. Studies conducted by the government show that only 10 per cent of boys from the poorest fifth of regions are entering Higher Education.

Following the Prime Minister’s recent decision, which seeks to force universities to publish data about the background of their applicants, the government has demanded that universities draw up plans to boost social mobility and access for the most disadvantaged.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson expressed concern that too many students were “missing out”, advocating that universities “go further and faster than ever before, especially the most selective institutions”.

He reported that the access gap is increasingly striking in Russell Group universities, where only 6 per cent of new young students will be from the most disadvantaged 20 per cent of areas. While the Prime Minister has already voiced his aim to double the proportion of university students from disadvantaged backgrounds by the end of his term, underachievement among white working-class boys has become a matter of rising concern.

In particular, the government called for “smarter spending from universities, with more outreach into neighbourhoods with low university entry rates”. However, Johnson writes that raising university participation rates is a “complex challenge”, unsolvable by universities alone. He argues that it must be an inclusive process requiring “deeper relationships” with schools in disadvantaged areas.

Universities failing to address these concerns may ultimately be barred from charging £9,000 tuition fees.

In addition to targeting white working-class boys, who are among the lowest achievers at school, universities are being asked to reduce dropout rates among black students, who are 50 per cent more likely to abandon their studies. Johnson maintained that this is “unacceptable in a country that believes in aspiration and opportunity”.

Equally, for the first time, the government has prioritised students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD/ADD.
The government’s funding for universities has risen from £444 million in 2011-12 to £745 million this year, and it hopes to see this money targeted where it will have a genuine impact. Rather than what it calls “tokenistic efforts”, such as offering a small number of bursaries, the government is calling for summer programmes and taster courses to “bust the myths” and inspire students.

Les Ebdon, the Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, is expected to issue his guidance on 12th February. He reports to be looking forward to working with ministers and is “pleased to receive this latest guidance”, as he believes no one with the potential to go to university should be deterred due to background.

Helena Blair, Cambridge University Students’ Union’s Access and Funding Officer, told Varsity that “these statistics highlight how a number of factors can influence the futures of prospective applicants from particular backgrounds and their ability to make informed decisions regarding entering higher education.”

She said that “in order for our university system to become increasingly diverse and representative”, it is important that “universities, the government, access NGOs and current students conduct outreach work that targets issues affecting specific communities and groups”.