Yahoo Finance University wealth gap exposed with as few as 1 in 20 in poorest areas studying for a degree
The university wealth gap has been laid bare with new analysis showing pupils in the country’s most affluent areas 18 times more likely to study for a degree as those in the poorest.
In some of the poorest areas, such as parts of Derbyshire, as few as one in 20 young people progress from school to university.
In contrast, in some of the wealthiest counties and boroughs, such as parts of Buckinghamshire, over 80% of young people progress to higher education.
MORE: Companies see no reason to pay more due to over-supply of job applicants
The charity Teach First argues disadvantaged young people are constantly held back by social mobility hurdles their wealthier peers do not face.
Its report, Beyond Access: Getting to University and Succeeding There, produced in partnership with the Credit Suisse EMEA Foundation, drew on figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England to highlight the area of Shirebrook in Derbyshire, where just 4.8% of young people started university in 2015.
By contrast, the area with the highest university entrants was Gerrards Cross North in Buckinghamshire, at 87.2%.
Brett Wigdortz, CEO and founder of Teach First said that while university might not be right path for everyone, it remains “the gateway for most high-status professions”.
MORE: Men with poor backgrounds ‘more likely than wealthy to be single by middle age’
He said: “However, today, there are still far too few disadvantaged pupils getting to university and completing their degree.
“They’re simply not given the same chance to reach their full potential, with less access to brilliant teaching and less guidance on how they can turn their aspirations into reality.
“More must be done by the government, universities and society as a whole to break down the barriers to social mobility that are preventing too many of our young people reaching as far as their potential allows.”
In 2015-16,universities and colleges spent £725.2 million on access measures, to support more disadvantaged students getting to university.
MORE: More students see university degrees as poor value for money
Teach First carried out research with ComRes, surveying more than 2,000 18-25 year olds, and found:
Half (47%) of the most disadvantaged young people who did not go to university said they feel like they have missed out on different opportunities by not going
Specifically, 37% they felt they missed out on career opportunities, 27% on social opportunities and 17% on both
Just 12% of disadvantaged young people who did not to go to university say this was because their grades weren’t good enough
38% of the most disadvantaged young people who did not go to university said they would consider going in the future
Commenting on the report, Universities Minister Jo Johnson told the BBC: “Recent UCAS data shows that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to go to university than ever before, but we agree there is more to do.”
