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<p>The Department for Education published an equality analysis in May 2016, to cover
the reforms set out in the <em>Success as a Knowledge Economy </em>White Paper<em>,</em>
that were subsequently taken forward through the Higher Education and Research Act
(2017).</p><p> </p><p>This included an assessment of the impact of allowing institutions
who were successful in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment process
to increase their fees up to inflation.</p><p> </p><p>The Department also published
in December 2016 an Equality Analysis for the 2017/18 student finance package, which
covered both the increase in fees and accompanying loan support.</p><p> </p><p>These
assessments concluded that this change was unlikely to significantly alter participation
decisions. Tuition fees will not increase in real terms and Higher Education and publicly
funded institutions will remain free at the point of access for those who are eligible,
as tuition fee loans will increase to cover increased tuition fees.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>A copy of the Equality Analysis – Higher Education and Research Bill (published
May 2016) is available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524226/bis-16-281-he-research-bill-equality-analysis.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524226/bis-16-281-he-research-bill-equality-analysis.pdf</a></p><p>A
copy of the Equality Analysis for the Student Support and Fee Regulations (published
December 2016) is available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/577420/Equality_Analysis_for_Student_Support_Regulations_2016.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/577420/Equality_Analysis_for_Student_Support_Regulations_2016.pdf</a>.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s world class higher
education system while living within its means and ensuring all those with the talent
to benefit from a higher education can afford to do so. To put higher education funding
onto a more sustainable footing, the Government asked future graduates to meet more
of the costs of their studies through replacing maintenance grants with loans.</p><p>The
equality analysis for the 2016/17 student support regulations assessed the impact
of this policy change, including the impact on students from low income backgrounds.</p><p>A
copy of the Student Finance Equality Analysis – The Education (Student Support) (Amendment)
Regulations 2015 (published November 2015) is available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/482110/bis-15-639-student-finance-equality-analysis.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/482110/bis-15-639-student-finance-equality-analysis.pdf</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>Non-continuation rates for UK students at English Higher Education Institutions
are lower than in 2009/10, including for the most disadvantaged students. Analysis
by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has found that students’
age, subject studied and entry qualifications account for a substantial portion of
the gap between the most and least disadvantaged students. The analysis is available
here:</p><p><a href="http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/ncr/nhe/" target="_blank">http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/ncr/nhe/</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>Young people from the poorest areas are now 43% more likely to go to university
than they were in 2009/10. Not only are application rates among 18-year-olds in England
at record highs, but drop-out rates for young, mature, disadvantaged and BME students
are all lower now than they were when the coalition government came to power in 2010.</p><p>By
measuring retention rates as one of its core metrics and requiring all participating
providers to submit a statement for fair access, the TEF aims to recognise those institutions
that do the most to welcome students from a range of backgrounds and support their
retention and progression to further study or a graduate job.</p><p> </p><p>We want
to continue to see reduced non-continuation rates for all students. The Higher Education
and Research Act 2017 requires institutions to publish admissions and retention data
by gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background, and this greater transparency
will help the Higher Education sector make further progress to build on what has already
been achieved. We are working closely with HEFCE and the Director of Fair Access to
target resources effectively and to ensure that universities take more responsibility
for widening access and retention for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, prioritising
activities that demonstrate the greatest value for money.</p><p> </p>
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