Access gaps narrow but ‘much more’ progress needed

OfS data reveal differences in access and attainment between different student groups

Universities have made progress on closing the gaps in access for students from underrepresented backgrounds but there is “much more to do”, the Office for Students has said.

In an update to its access and participation data set, which shows the gaps in access to higher education between different student groups, the OfS revealed that the gap between the most and least advantaged students at higher-tariff universities had fallen slightly from 19.5 percentage points in 2018-19 to 19.2 percentage points in 2019-20.