UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM - ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION PLAN 2020-21 TO 2024-25
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UNIVERSITY OF
BIRMINGHAM
ACCESS AND
PARTICIPATION PLAN
2020–21 TO 2024–25
Contents Foreword 3 1.Assessmentofperformance 5 Figure1 5 Figure2 7 Figure3 9 Figure4 10 2.Strategicaimsandobjectives 13 3.Strategicmeasures 17 Figure5:BirminghamScholarTheoryofChange 17 4.Provisionofinformationtostudents 31 References 37
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 3
Foreword
TheUniversityofBirminghamisproudofits BirminghamScholarswhentheyjointhe
longstandingandpioneeringapproachto University.Otherstudentswillbeidentified,
wideningparticipationinhighereducation. flaggedinourPersonalAcademicTutoring
Ourambitionisthatstudentswiththepotential systemandinvitedtojointheprogramme,
tosucceedattheUniversityhavethe sothatwecanreducethegapsinattainment
opportunitytogainaccess,achievetheir andprogressionidentifiedinourdataand
academicpotentialandprogresssuccessfully enablestudentstogoontorewarding
totheirchosencareersorfurtherstudy.Inthis graduatecareersorpostgraduatestudy.
AccessandParticipationPlan,wesetouthow
wewillachievethisthroughourinnovative Webelievethateffectivewideningparticipation
new‘BirminghamScholar’Framework. inHErequiresustoworkinpartnershipwith
Thissitsacrossthefullapplicantandstudent ourHEcolleagues,andthiscommitmentis
lifecycleandenablesustoprovidetargeted, demonstratedthroughourleadershipofthe
personalisedinterventionstosupport regionalAimhigherPartnershipandour
thoseapplicantsandstudentsfromunder- activityasafoundingmemberofRealising
representedbackgrounds,whomaybein Opportunities.Workingwithschoolsand
needoffurtherhelptoaccess,toprogress collegesremainsimportantforustoachievethe
andtocompletetheircoursesuccessfully objectiveswehaveset,whichiswhywesetup
atBirmingham theUniversityofBirminghamsecondaryschool,
haveastrategicpartnershipwithUniversity
OurAccesstoBirminghamScheme(A2B), CollegeBirmingham,workwithmorethan
launchedin2001,wasoneofthefirstinthe 250partnerschools,andengagewidelywith
highereducationsector,andwearepleased theeconomicandsocialregenerationofthe
thatmanyotheruniversitieshavesinceadopted BirminghamandWestMidlandsregion.
asimilarapproach.Wehavesetoutambitious
planstocontinuetodevelopandincreasethe Ifyouareinterestedinfindingoutmoreabout
numbersofstudentswhobenefitfromour anythinginourplandonothesitatetoget
support,broadeningA2Bintoour‘Pathwaysto intouch!
Birmingham’process,with10%ofourintake
expectedtoenterviathisrouteby2025.
Alongsidethis,wearesupportingtheambition
oftheOfficeforStudents(OfS)toreducethe
gapbetweenstudentsenteringtheUniversity
frompostcodeareasknownasPolar4,Quintile
5andQuintile1,andhavesetourselvesan
ambitiousinstitutionaltarget,accompaniedbya
rangeofadditionalinterventions,tohelpusto
achievethis.
Aswellasincreasingourfocusonthe
recruitmentoflessadvantagedstudentstothe
UniversityofBirmingham,weremaincommitted
tosupportingstudentswhoprogressthrough
ourprogrammestootherinstitutions,supporting
sector-wideimprovementandthedeliveryof
nationaltargets.Wealsocontinueimportant
workwithpre-16learnerstohelptoraise
aspirationsandattainment,andenable
studentstomakeinformedchoices
aboutfuturestudyoptions.
ApplicantstotheUniversityviaPathwaysto
Birminghamwillautomaticallybecome
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 4
University of Birmingham
Access and participation plan
2020–21 to 2024–25
TheUniversityofBirminghamhasembraced numberofareasofsuccessonwhichwecan measures,suchastheperformanceoftheir
wideningparticipationandfairaccesssinceits build,aswellashighlightingsomeareaswhere school,householdincome,wheretheylive,
foundation.InrecentyearstheUniversityhas ouranalysishighlightsthatmoreneedstobe whethertheyaredisabled,andwhetherthey
providednotonlyoutstandinginitiativesto done.ExpertisefromtheUniversity’sown arethefirstintheirfamilytoattenduniversity.
widenparticipationatBirminghamandbeyond, researchcentres,includingtheCentrefor Thisisarealisticandbalanced,yetstretching
butalsosectorleadershipamongstthe ResearchinRaceandEducation,the andambitious,approach,andonethatwehave
selectivehigh-tariffuniversitiesacrosstheUK. DepartmentofDisability,InclusionandSpecial championedthroughourA2BScheme.This
Wewereoneofthefirstuniversitiestouse Needs,andtheJubileeCentreforCharacter approachhasbeenfurtherdevelopedthrough
contextualoffers,withuptotwograde andVirtueshasinformedthedevelopmentof therecentintroductionofawiderandmore
reductionsforthosewhohaddemonstrated ourAccessandParticipationstrategy,andwill flexiblerangeofaccessprogrammesunder
thepotentialtosucceedbutnotreachedthe continuetodoso. ourPathwaystoBirmingham(P2B)banner.
standardentrytariff.OurpioneeringAccessto
Birmingham(A2B)programmehasbeenwidely WhilstwerecognisetheshiftinOfSfocusto Wearecommittedtocontinuingourfocuson
copiedacrossthecountry,andwenotethat closingthegapinaccessbetweenstudents measuresofmultipledisadvantageand,through
itisreferencedbytheOfSasbestpractice. fromlow(Quintile1)andhigh(Quintile5) thisPlan,wearesettingourselvesanambitious
TheA2Bprogrammeisbuiltonextensive participationneighbourhoods,evidence targettogrowthenumberofstudentsweadmit
engagementwithschoolsacrosstheregion, suggeststhatPOLARdata,inisolation,isa throughourflagshipPathwaystoBirmingham
withourstudents,staffandalumniworking verylimitedmeasureofdisadvantage.Itisa accessprogrammes.RecognisingtheOfS
directlytoraiseaspirationandsupport single-dimensionmethodology(basedon nationalkeyperformancemeasure,however,
attainment.Thesuccessoftheprogrammeis allocationofpostcodesonly),whichdoesnot andtherolewehavetoplayinthis,wehave
basedoncarefulselectionof,andsustained reflectthecomplexandoftenintersectional alsosetourselvesasupplementaryandrealistic
engagementwiththetargetgroup.Themajority natureofdisadvantage;indeedresearch1has targetspecificallyrelatingtoclosingthegapin
ofourUK-domiciledundergraduatefirst- shownthatonly13%ofstudentseligiblefor accessbetweenstudentsfromlow(P4Q1)
degreepopulationstudyfull-time(99%); FreeSchoolMealslivewithinP4Q1areasof andhigh-participationneighbourhoods.
three-quartersarefromstateschools,anda thecountry.Thisissupportedbyevidencefrom
thirdarefirst-generationstudents(2018–19 ourowninstitutionaldatawhichshowsthat Ourstrategyisunderpinnedbyournew
data),andafiftharefromdisadvantaged nearlytenpercentofstudentsfromlow- BirminghamScholarframework.Thisisafull
backgrounds(PolarQuintiles1and2). participationneighbourhoodscomefrom lifecycleframeworkthatprovidestargeted,
high-incomehouseholds.Thechallengeof personalisedinterventionstosupportspecific
Ourcommitmenttowideningparticipation focusingpurelyonreducingthePOLARgapis groups(includingthosetargetedwithinthis
goesbeyondsimplyaccesstotheUniversity furthercompoundedbythelimitednumberof Plan)ofapplicants,studentsandrecent
ofBirmingham.Wearetheonlyuniversityto Polar4Quintile1(P4Q1)studentswholeave graduateswhoarelikelytofaceadditional
haveopenedourownsecondarytraining schoolwiththequalificationsforadmissionto challengesthroughouttheirstudentjourney.
schooldedicatedtoraisingaspirationand higher-tariffinstitutions,comparedtothe Aspartofthisframework,currentstudentswill
achievement.TheSchoolisacomprehensive numbersfromothergroups.Forexample,in continuetohaveacentralroleinco-creating
non-selectiveinstitutionwithahighlydiverse 2017–18,UCASdatashowedtherewereonly initiativesandsupportingtheirpeers.
studentpopulation.Thishasbeenasignificant 2,700P4Q1studentsnationallywhoachieved
financialandresourceinvestment;thislevelof AABorbetter.Thissuggeststhataccessisa WearepleasedthattheOfShasrecently
commitmentissector-leading,andweseethis complexissuewhichcannotbeaddressedby awardedChallengefundingtotwoUniversity-
asacoreelementofourcontributionto universitiesinisolation,andthereisariskthat ledinitiativesinlocalgraduateemployability
improvingaccesstohighereducation.Weoffer universitieswillbecompetingforasmallpool andstudentmentalhealth,bothofwhichwill
anumberofannualscholarshipstostudents ofpriorityapplicants. contributetotheobjectivessetoutinthisplan.
fromtheUniversitySchooltosupporttheir
progressiontohighereducationstudy Ourexperienceshowsthatamulti-dimensional
atBirmingham. measureofdisadvantage–onewhich
recognisesthemultipleandcomplex
Thisdocumentsetsoutanambitious, backgroundsfromwhichourstudentscome
outcomes-basedAccessandParticipationPlan. –ispreferabletoasingularfocusonP4Q1
Wewelcometheopportunitytoplanandset cohorts.Forovertenyears,ouraccessstrategy
targetsoveralongerperiodthanpreviously. hasfocusedonsupportingstudentsthatare
Ourperformanceassessmenthighlightsa disadvantagedasevidencedbyabasketof
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 5
1. Assessment of performance
Webelievethatourperformancedatahighlight Ouranalysishasfocusedonfull-time, Access
theimpactoftheUniversity’scommitmentto first-degreestudentsonly,asthatreflectsour Ouraccessstrategytodate,andourprevious
equalityofaccessandopportunity,aswellas institutionalcontextasamajorityfull-time, OFFAtargets,havefocusedonincreasing
theabsolutevalueofaBirminghameducation. residential,campus-baseduniversity(99.5% accessforregionalstudentswithmultiple
Birminghamstudentsfromeachofthefour2 ofourundergraduatesstudyfull-timefirst characteristicsofdisadvantagethoughour
OfStargetgroupsoutperformthesectorin degrees,equatingtoover22,000students). A2Bscheme.Wehaveconsistentlymetour
absolutetermsacrosscontinuation,attainment Ourpart-timeundergraduateprovisionis A2Btargetand,in2018–19,6.8%ofour
andgraduateandhighlyskilledemployability. restrictedtoasmallnumberofspecialist intakewereA2Bstudentsfrombackgrounds
Inmanycases,theabsoluteperformanceof programmes,withatotalpopulationof reflectingmultiplemeasuresofdisadvantage.
ourstudentsacrossthefour2OfSpriority 128(2018–19). Wehavelongrecognisedthatstudentsfrom
under-representedgroupsisbetterthan disadvantagedbackgroundsmayexperience
thesectoraverageforstudentsfrom 1.1 Higher education participation educationaldisadvantageandwealreadyoffer
moreadvantagedbackgrounds.Assuch, (POLAR4 Quintiles) targetedcontextualoffers.Studentswho
Birminghamstudentsfromunder-represented Figure1showsthepercentageperformance progressfromouraccessprogrammes
groupsareaslikely(ifnotmorelikely) gapsforP4Q1students(ascomparedto (includingA2Bstudents)receiveatwo-grade
tocontinueontheircourse,achievegood P4Q5students)acrossthefourmainelements reductiononourstandardoffer,whilestudents
honoursandgainhighlyskilledemployability ofthestudentlifecycle,overafive-yearperiod. fromPOLARQ1backgroundsoutsideofthe
thantheaverageEnglishstudentfrom TheUniversityofBirminghamperformance regionreceiveaone-gradereduction.Though
over-representedgroups. (orangeline)iscomparedagainstthesector ourexistingaccessstrategywehaveincreased
(blueline);significantgapsarerepresentedby theproportionofA2BapplicationsfromP3Q13
Wehavereducedtheperformancegapacross asolidcircle,andnon-significantgapsare areasfrom15%to28%,andin2018wesaw
eachofthesemeasuresforallfourtarget representedbyahollowcircle.Thelighter a70%increaseinA2BentrantsfromP3Q1
groupsovertheperiodfrom2012–13.Inall orange/bluerangesindicatethe95% (102students),againstapreviousfour-year
buttwocases(maturecontinuationandP4Q1 confidenceintervalsforBirminghamandthe averageof60students.
progression)ourgapsarebelowthesector, sectorrespectivelyandthisillustratesthe
and,inthecaseoftheP4Q1progressiongap relativesensitivityofaparticulargaptosmall Ourabsoluteperformanceinrecruiting
thedifferenceisnotstatisticallysignificant. populations(thesmallerthepopulation,the studentsfromPOLAR4Quintile1(P4Q1)
Ourlongstandingcommitmenttoimproving largertheintervalrangeislikelytobe).The backgroundsshowsthatwearemakingsteady
accessmeansthatourintakeofstudentsfrom figureshowsstatisticallysignificantgapsfor progress.P4Q1studentsaccountfor6.1%of
disadvantagedbackgrounds(asmeasuredby accessandattainmentforP4Q1students,and ourfull-time,first-degreeintake(2017–18);
ourA2BpopulationandPOLAR3Q1and2) thatgapsforcontinuationandprogressionare agrowthof20%since2013–14.
hasgrowninabsoluteterms,andourintakeare notstatisticallysignificant.Weunpickthis
majoritystateschooleducated(c.75%). analysisfurtherinthefollowingsub-sections.
OfSdatahighlightstatisticallysignificant
accessgapsacrossanumberoftheOfS
targetgroups,butitisimportanttonotethat
ouraccessstrategytodatehasfocusedon
providingsupportandfairaccesstostudents Figure 1: POLAR Quintiles 1 and 5 percentage performance gaps across the student
fromourlocalregion,basedonabasketof lifecycle, UoB (orange) vs sector (blue) (OfS data release March 2019, POLARQ1
indicatorsofdisadvantage,notjustthose is ‘split 2’)
specifiedbyindividualOfSKPMs.
Weexpandonthissummaryinthefollowing
sub-sections.Ineachsectionweprovide
anassessmentoftheextenttowhichour
performanceindicatesaneedfortargeted
interventionstosupportimprovedperformance,
eitherthroughformaltargetsorthroughthe
continueddevelopmentofexistingmeasures.
WehaveutilisedtheOfSdatasetasthe
startingpointforouranalysis,supplementedby
arangeofdetailedinternalandexternaldata
(TEFmetrics,UCASequalitiesdata,HESAand
DLHEdataandinternalKPIs)asappropriate.
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 6
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
Notwithstandingimprovementsinabsolute pastoralcareandstudentsupportstructures Thegapis,however,statisticallysignificantand
terms,our2017–18gapinaccessbetween (seeSection3‘StrategicMeasures’).We wewillcommittoreducingthisgapaspartof
P4Q1andP4Q5studentsis39.3%.Thisgap understand,however,thatmaintainingour theaimsandobjectivesoutlinedinthisPlan.
hasincreasedslightlyovertheperiodfrom strongperformancewillbecomeincreasingly Thiswillbeanambitioustargetgiventhe
2013–14,againstadecliningsectorgap,and challengingasweworktoincreaseourintake plannedgrowthofintakeinthiscohort.Whilst
remainsstatisticallysignificant.Ourratiois ofP4Q1wherewemayberecruitingstudents ourtargetisfocusedonP4Q1,perOfS
7.4:1andthiscomparestoaRussellGroup withadditionalfinancialsupportneeds,family guidance,wealsonotethatourdatashowa
ratioof6:1anda‘hightariffinstitutions’4 commitmentsandworkcommitments.Itis significantattainmentgapforIMD5students.
ratioof5:1. importantthatwecontinuetoofferthe Ouranalysissuggeststhatthereissignificant
additionalsupportnecessarytohelpstudents overlapbetweenPOLARandIMD,andwe
Ourperformancereflectspositiveoutcomes tobalancethesechallengeswiththoseof saymoreinSection3abouttheadditional
onthosemeasuresthatwehavepreviously studyingatBirmingham(seeSection3– measureswewillputinplacetosupport
targeted.ClosingtheQ1/Q5gapisanew StrategicMeasures–fordetailsofthesupport reducingthePOLARattainmentgapandhow
target.Wearecommittedtoreducingthatgap weprovide).Wewillcontinuetoprioritisethis thesemeasureswill,concurrently,supportthe
whilstretainingourcommitmentstosupporting supportandseektomaintainourstrong reductionoftheIMDgap.
fairaccessacrossmultiplemeasuresof performanceinthisarea.
disadvantageaswebelievethistobean Progressiontohighlyskilled
appropriateandaccuratereflectionof Success(attainment) employmentorfurtherstudy
disadvantage.Wehavethereforefurther 80.9%ofourP4Q1studentsachievedgood Wehaveconsistentlyout-performedthesector
developedouraccessofferingtoincludea honoursin2017–18.Thisis7.1percentage inabsolutetermsoverthefullreportingperiod.
widerandmoreflexiblerangeofaccess pointshigherthanthesectorrate,andreflects Highlyskilledemployabilityforour2016–17
programmesunderthebannerofPathways athirdconsecutiveyearimprovementin P4Q1graduatesis74.6%.Thisisoversix
toBirmingham(seelaterStrategicMeasures absoluteattainment.ThegaptoP4Q5good percentagepointshigherthanthesectorrate.
section).Wewilldemonstratethevalueand honoursattainmentis9.1%(2017–18);thisis Wehaveseenadeclineinrecentyearswith
impactofthisthroughachallengingtargetto belowthesectorgap(9.4%)andagainmarksa P4Q1highlyskilledemployabilityfallingfrom
increaseintakeviatheseprogrammes.Wealso continuedpositivetrajectoryinreducingthe 82.2%to74.6%,andthishascontributedto
recognisetheOfSnationalkeyperformance performancegap. theperformancegaptoP4Q5students
measure,andtherolewewillplayinthisin
lightofcurrentperformance.Wewillseekto
addressthisthroughasupplementaryaccess
targetspecificallyfocusedonclosingthegap
inP4Q1access,butourapproachmustbe
realisticgiventheevidenceofasmallnational
poolofsuitablyqualifiedapplicants(evenwith
gradedrops).Section2.2providesfurther
detailonouraccesstargets,andSection3
providesdetailonthemeasureswehavein
placetosupporttheirachievement.
Success(non-continuation)
ThecontinuationrateforP4Q1studentsis
95%(2016–17)andthisisfivepercentage
pointshigherthanthesectorrateforP4Q1.
Thisreflectsfouryearsofcontinuous
improvementandisabovethesectoraverage
continuationrateforP4Q5students.Thegap
inperformancecomparedtoP4Q5studentsis
small(2.7%)andwellbelowthesectorrateof
4.3%.Overtheperiodfrom2012–13thegap
hasreducedfrom4.1%to2.7%,andisno
longerstatisticallysignificant.
TheUniversityhasasustainedandverypositive
retentionrecordacrossallstudentgroups
(seefigures1–4).Thisreflectsourcontinued
investmentinanddevelopmentofintegrated
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 7
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
increasingfrom-0.9%in2012–13,to6.3% Access Thisisacomplexchallenge,andonethathas
in2016–17.Thisislargerthanthesectorgap, In2017–18,25.4%ofourfull-time rootsdeepinthesecondaryschoolsystem
butwenoteitisnotstatisticallysignificant undergraduateintakewerestudentsfrom (andearlier).Wehave,however,undertaken
(adifferenceof12studentswoulderadicate BAMEbackgrounds,comparedto31% detailedanalysistounderstandhowwecan
thegap). nationally.OurBAMEintakehasincreased bettersupportsuitablyqualifiedBlackand
by8%since2013–145.TheBAMEaccess AsianapplicantstoenrolatBirmingham.
Internalanalysisofourperformancehas gaphas,however,increasedfrom45.9%in Ourevaluationhasshownthatofferratesare
highlightedthatlocallydomiciledA2Band 2013–14to49.3%in2017–18,againsta broadlyequalacrossthedifferentethnicity
Blackstudents(whomakeup15%and11%of lowerandfallingsectorgap(38.1%in groupsforqualifiedcandidatesinnon-
ourP4Q1cohortrespectively)arecontributing 2017–18). interviewingsubjects.Howeverforsome
disproportionatelytoourdecliningabsolute subjectsthatemployinterviews,suchas
performance(andassociatedincreasedgap). TheaccessgapsaremostsignificantforBlack Medicineanddentistry,BAMEstudentsare
GraduateemployabilityforA2Bstudentshas studentsandstudentsofotherethnicity,being lesslikelytoreceiveanoffer.Wehavetaken
fallenfrom82.6%to77.4%,andforlocalBlack 69.9%and73.6%respectively(althoughthe stepstoaddressandmonitorthisthough
studentsithasfallenfrom88.2%to71.4% lattergrouprepresentsverysmallabsolute thecollationofdatarelatingtointerview
(comparedtorelativelystablelocalBAME numbers–45students).WhilstTransparency attendance,performanceatinterview,
graduateemployability). Conditiondatashowrelativelylowofferrates academicthresholdsandreasonsfordecision
forBlackandAsianstudents,our2018UCAS toensurethatunexpectedvariationsarenot
Supportingourstudentsintograduateand dataalsoshowthatBlackapplicantsareless present.Dataarenowreviewedsystematically
highlyskilledemployabilityisakeystrategic likelytoapplywiththepredictedgradesthat atkeypointsduringtheinterviewprocesses,
priorityandwearecommittedtoreversingthe meetouroffercriteria(55%ofBlackapplicants andweareconfidentthatourprocessesare
declininggraduateemployabilityratesforour meetourstandardcriteriavs67%ofWhite consistent,transparentandequitable.Weare
P4Q1students.Wehavealreadybegunto applicants).Forsomeprogrammes,themix extendingtherobusttrainingweprovideto
addressthesechallengesthroughourAccess ofAlevelsubjectsstudiedisafurther interviewpanelstofurtherminimisetheriskof
toCareers(A2C)programme(seeSection3, importantbarrier. unconsciousbiasandenhancingtheavailability
‘StrategicMeasures),andincontinuedsupport oftargetedinterviewsupport,buildingonbest
ofourstrategicobjectivewewillspecifically WetargetschoolsforourOutreachactivity practiceinmedicine.Wehavealsotakensteps
targetlocallydomiciledA2BandBlack thathavehighproportionsofBAMEstudents tobettersupportourBAMEapplicants
studentsaspartofthetargetssetoutin andthismeansthatBAMEstudentsare tobepreparedfor,andinformedabout,
thisPlan. proportionallywell-representedinourA2B theapplicationprocesstoincreasetheir
andlowparticipationintakepopulation: chancesofsuccess.OurRoutestothe
1.2 Black, Asian and minority 11%ofourP4Q1intakeareofBlackethnicity Professionsscheme,forexample,isan
ethnic students and76%ofour(2018)A2Bintakewerefrom 18-monthprogrammeofsupportforstudents
Figure2showsthepercentageperformance BAMEbackgrounds. whoarelookingforcareersinmedicine,
gapsforBAMEstudents(ascomparedto dentistry,law,accountingandfinance
Whitestudents)acrossthefourmainelements andengineering.
ofthestudentlifecycleoverafive-yearperiod.
Birminghamperformance(orangeline)is
comparedagainstthesector(blueline); Figure 2: BAME vs White performance gaps across the student lifecycle,
significantgapsarerepresented UoB (orange) vs sector (blue) (OfS data release March 2019, BAME is ‘split 2’)
byasolidcircle,andnon-significantgapsare
representedbyahollowcircle.Thelighter
orange/bluerangesindicatethe95%
confidenceintervalsforBirminghamandthe
sectorrespectively;thisisprovidedtoshowthe
relativesensitivityofaparticulargaptosmall
populations(thesmallerthepopulation,the
largertheintervalrangeislikelytobe).The
figureshowsstatisticallysignificantgapsfor
accessandattainmentforBAMEstudents
whilegapsforcontinuationandprogression
arenotstatisticallysignificant.Weunpickthis
analysisfurtherinthefollowingsub-sections.
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 8
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
Success(non-continuation) TheBAMEgaptoWhiteperformanceis thedetailedlevel,wherehighlyskilled
96.2%ofourBAMEstudentscontinuedtheir 12.3%;thisissmallerthanthesectorgap employabilityoutstripsthesectoracrossthe
studiesin2016–17;thisissevenpercentage (13.7%).WhilstourBAMEattainmentgaphas board(by11.9percentagepointsforourAsian
pointshigherthanthesectorrate(89%)and generallybeenonanimprovingtrajectory,we students,4.3pointsforourBlackstudents,
marksabroadlyincreasingtrajectoryoverthe sawaslightincreasefrom2016–17to 5.8percentagepointsforourstudentsof
reportingperiod.Thisperformanceisreplicated 2017–18,andthegapremainssignificant. mixedethnicityand17.1percentagepoints
atthedetailedlevel,withAsian,Blackand forourstudentsofotherethnicity).
studentsofmixedandotherethnicityallhaving Atadetailedlevel,thegaptoWhiteattainment
absolutecontinuationratesabovethesector6. rangesfrom8.2%(forstudentsofother ThegapinBAMEhighlyskilledemployability
ethnicity)to15.7%(forBlackstudents);inboth hasfallenfrom8.3%(2012–13)to2.8%
ThegapinBAMEperformancecompared casesthegapsaresmallerthanthesector in2016–17,andisnowstatisticallynot
toWhitestudentshasfallenfrom3%in (14%and23.2%respectively).Ourrateof significant.Thispictureisreplicatedforour
2012–13to0.6%in2016–17;thisiswell improvementinreducingtheBlackattainment Asianstudents(wherethegapreducedfrom
belowthesectorgapof3%,andisnot gaphasoutstrippedthesector,fallingfrom 9%to0.8%)andstudentsofotherethnicity
statisticallysignificant. 20.3%in2013–14to11.8%in2016–17. (wherethegaphasreducedfrom-0.5%
However,thegapremainsstatistically to-4.5%).
Similarly,atthedetailedethnicitylevel, significant.
performancegapsaresmallandnotstatistically Whilstthegaphasincreasedforstudentsof
significant(Asian-0.7%,Black2.8%, Asianstudentshavethesecond-largest mixedethnicity(from-2.5%to4.9%)thegap
mixed0.8%,other5.8%). attainmentgap(12.5%),andasourlargest remainsstatisticallynotsignificant.
proportionofBAMEstudents(accountingfor
Thedatadonothighlightanysignificant 60%ofthe2017–18graduatingBAME ForourBlackstudents,theperformancegap
differencesincontinuationforourBAME population)arecontributingmoresignificantly toWhitestudentshasincreasedfrom-2.4%
students,eitheratthebroadordetailed toouroverallBAMEattainmentgap.This (2014–15)to7.9%(2016–17).Thisgapis
ethnicitylevel.Wenote,however,thatthe (AsianvWhite)gaphasbroadlytrackedinline abovethesectorandstatisticallysignificant;
widersocietalandstructuralissues withthesector,althoughlatestdata(2017–18) ithaslargelybeencausedbyfallingabsolute
underpinningdifferentialBAMEperformance showourgaptobehigherthanthesector. employabilityratesforourBlackstudents
andweremaincommittedtotheinterventions againstastableperformancefromWhite
wehavedevelopedovertherecentpast Thedatahighlightastatisticallysignificantgap students7.Internalanalysishasfurtheridentified
(seeSection3,StrategicMeasures)that intheperformanceofBAMEstudentsas aspecificchallengewithourlow-participation
havehadapositiveimpactonourcurrent comparedtoWhitestudentsinattainmentof Blackstudents(asdefinedasthoseentering
performance.Suchmeasuresincludeour goodhonours,andwewillcommittoreducing throughourA2Bprogramme).BlackA2B
BAMEAmbassadorsscheme,supportedby thisgapaspartoftheaimsandobjectives studentshaveagraduateemployabilityrateof
theOfSandrecognisedbyUUKandNUSas outlinedinthisPlan.Ouranalysishasshown 50%(2016–17data)comparedto77.4%for
bestpractice.Wewillcontinuetoprioritise thatBlackandAsianstudentshavethemost theoverallA2Bcohort.
thissupportandensurethatanygapinBAME significant(intermsofpopulationsizeand
continuationdoesnotincreasetoastatistically absoluteperformance)gaps;wewilltherefore Therefore,wewilltargetBlackstudents,
significantlevelthroughtheobjectivesand targetthesecohortsofstudentsthrough particularlythosewhoareA2Bentrants,
targetssetoutwithinthisPlan. targetedinterventions(seeSection3– foradditionalemployabilitysupportandto
StrategicMeasures).Indoingsowewillalso enhanceengagement.
Success(attainment) contributetotheOfSKPM4toreducethe
78.7%ofourBAMEgraduatesachievegood Blackattainmentgap. Supportingourstudentsintograduateand
honours;thisis11percentagepointshigher highlyskilledemployabilityisakeystrategic
thanthesectorrateforBAMEgoodhonours. Progressiontohighlyskilled priority,andwehavealreadytakenstepsto
Atadetailedethnicitylevel,studentswith employmentorfurtherstudy supportincreasedengagementwithour
‘other’ethnicityhavethehighestabsolute GraduateoutcomesforourBAMEstudentsare careerssupportbasedonlearningfromour
performance(82.9%comparedtothesector strong.77.4%ofourBAMEgraduatessecured evaluationactivities(seeSection3,Strategic
rateof67.3%),whilstBlackstudentshavethe highly-skilledemployabilityin2016–17;thisis Measures).WewillcommitwithinthisPlan
lowest(75.3%,comparedtothesectorrateof 9.5percentagepointshigherthanthesector toseektoreducetheBlackgraduate
58.1%);inallcases,ourstudents’absolute rate(67.9%)andmarksasustainedimproving employabilitygap.
performanceoutstripsthesector. trajectory.Thispictureisreplicatedat
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 9
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
1.3 Mature students
TheUniversityofBirmingham’sstrategic Figure 3: Mature vs Young performance gaps across the student lifecycle
missionsistodeliverfull-time,campus-based (OfS data release March 2019, Mature is ‘split 2’)
undergraduateprovision,andtherefore95%of
ourpopulationisfull-time,withmaturestudents
onlymakingupasmallproportionofour
population.Figure3showsthepercentage
performancegapsformaturestudents(as
comparedtoyoungstudents)acrossthefour
mainelementsofthestudentlifecycle,overa
fiveyearperiod.Birminghamperformance
(orangeline)iscomparedagainstthesector
(blueline);significantgapsarerepresented
byasolidcircle,andnon-significantgapsare
representedbyahollowcircle.Thelighter
orange/bluerangesindicatethe95%
confidenceintervalsforBirminghamandthe
sectorrespectively;thisisprovidedtoshow
therelativesensitivityofaparticulargapto
smallpopulations(thesmallerthepopulation,
thelargertheintervalrangeislikelytobe). Success(non-continuation) (2013–14)to8.5%,andisnowbelow
Thefigureshowsstatisticallysignificantgaps Ourabsolutecontinuationrateformature thesectorgap(9.5%).
foraccess,continuation,attainmentand studentsis88.9%,thisis3.4percentage
employability,howeverinthelattercasethisis pointsabovethesector,andreflectsabroadly MaturestudentsattheUniversityof
a‘negative’gapwherebyourmaturestudents positivetrajectoryoverthereportingperiod. Birminghamhaveahigherrateofachieving
outperformtheiryoungpeers.Weunpickthis Theperformancegaptoyoungstudentshas goodhonours,andarethereforemorelikely
analysisfurtherinthefollowingsub-sections. fallenfrom13.6%(2012–13)to8.1%in tosucceed,thantheaverageEnglishstudent
2016–17. under21(79.6%ofBirminghammature
Access studentsachievegoodhonours,compared
Givenourcontextasmajorityfull-timeand Wehaveundertakenfurtheranalysistoseekto with79.3%ofsectorunder21s).Ourfull-time
campus-basedforourundergraduatestudy, understandthereasonsunderlyingwhyour maturepopulationissmall;anadditional12
weanticipateandacceptahighfull-time maturestudentsdonotcontinueintheir students,annually,gaininggoodhonourswould
accessgapbetweenyoungandmature studies.Overathree-yearaggregatedperiod eradicatethegap;thisislessthan0.3%ofour
learners.Itisunsurprising,therefore,thatthe (2015–16to2017–18),two-thirds(66%)of annualgraduatingcohort.Assuch,wedonot
OfSdatashowahighaccessgapformature maturestudentsleftforpersonalreasons believethatisitappropriatetosetaformal
full-timelearners.In2017–18,97.1%ofour beyondtheUniversity’scontrol(forexample, targetforsuchsmallnumbers,howeverwewill
(2017–18)full-timeintakewereunder21, movingintoemployment,healthreasons, continuetosupportourmaturestudentsto
andthisrepresentsa94.2%accessgap. transferredtoanotherinstitutionorbalancing achievetheiracademicpotentialthrough
full-timestudywithexistingpersonal accesstotargetedinterventionsprovided
Ourcoremissionisfull-time,campus-based commitmentsbecameunsustainable).Wewill undertheBirminghamScholarframework
undergraduateeducation,andtofocusona continuetoworkwithourmaturestudentsto (seeSection3‘StrategicMeasures’,
matureaccessgapwouldbecontrarytothis. betterunderstandtheirindividual forfurtherdetails).
WeareconfidentthattheOfSrecognisesthe circumstancesandoffersupporttowardsthe
importanceofinstitutionalautonomyinsetting mostappropriateoutcomeforthem.Wenote Progressiontohighlyskilled
subjectmixandmajoritymodeofdelivery.We thatinsomecases,non-continuationisthe employmentorfurtherstudy
arenot,therefore,seekingtoaddressthisgap appropriateoutcomeforanindividual. In2016–1789.3%ofourmaturestudents
inourPlan.Wenote,however,thatour(very securedhighly-skilledemployability,thisis13.5
smallandspecialist)part-timeundergraduate Success(attainment) percentagepointshigherthanthesectorrate.
populationcomprisespredominantlymature Thegoodhonoursrateforourmaturestudents Thegaptoouryounggraduatesis‘negative’
students(78.4%ofourpart-timeother is79.6%;thisis9.8percentagepointshigher acrossthefullreportingperiod,withmature
undergraduateintakein2017–18wereover thanthesectorandmarksasustainedincrease studentsconsistentlyshowingahigherhighly
21)andwehaveadedicatedmaturestudent overtheperiod(improvingfromagood skilledemployabilityratethantheiryoung
ambassadortosupportthesematurelearners. honoursrateof66.2%in2013–14).Thegap peers.The2016–17gapis-10.1%.
inperformancehasfallenfrom20.4%
Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 10
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
Thedatashowaconsistentlystronglypositive Access StudentDisabilityServicewhichprovides
performanceforourmaturestudentsingaining 11.3%ofourstudentintakein2017–18 informationandsupportfrompre-application
highlyskilledemployability;assuchwedonot consistedofstudentswithareporteddisability. tograduationwithexpertiseacrossarange
intendtosetatargetinthisarea.Wenote Overtheperiodsince2013–14,ourdisabled ofdisciplines–includingmentalhealth.
thattheOfSdashboardflagsthisgapas populationhasincreasedby34%(to525).
statisticallysignificant,howeveritwould Wehavereducedthedisabledaccessgap Success(non-continuation)
beperversetoartificiallyconstrainthe from80.5%in2013–14to74.7%in 95.5%ofourdisabledstudentscontinuein
performanceofourmaturestudents 2016–17,broadlymirroringthesectortrend. theirstudies,comparedto90.3%acrossthe
toaddressthisperceivedissue. Atadisaggregatedlevel,theaccessgapsare sector(2016–17data).Thecontinuationgap
broadlycomparable(cognitiveandlearning tostudentswithnoknowndisabilityissmall
1.4 Disabled students disability85.1%,mentalhealthdisability (1.3%),notstatisticallysignificantandrelates
Figure4showsthepercentageperformance 85.3%,multipleimpairments86.1%,sensory toverysmallnumbers(Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 11
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
resumetheirstudies,alongsidereasonable toa-7.4%gapforstudentswithsensory WeworkwithBirminghamVirtualSchools,
adjustmentsforon-coursesupport(see disabilities.Inallcasesourstudentswith localauthoritiesandlocalHEIstoprovidea
Section3‘Alignmentwithotherstrategies’ reporteddisabilitiesoutperformtheir robustprogrammeofactivityforcare
fordetail). non-disabledpeers. experiencedyoungpeople.Weareactive
participantsofNationalNetworkofEducation
Success(attainment) Thedatashowaconsistentandstrongly forCareLeaversandtheWestMidlandsCare
Birminghamstudentswithareporteddisability positiveperformanceforourstudentswith LeaversNetwork,andwehaveapresenceon
aremorelikelythantheaverageEnglishstudent reporteddisabilitiesingaininghighlyskilled thePropelwebsite.Wegivecareexperienced
toachievegoodhonours.85.6%ofour employability;assuchwedonotintendtoseta applicantspriorityaccesstoouroutreach
studentswithareporteddisabilityachieved targetinthisareabutwillcontinuetoprovide programmes,andprovideasinglepointof
goodhonoursin2017–18;thisis10.4 supportandservicestothesegroupsunder contactforyoungpeopleincare,careleavers
percentagepointshigherthanthesector. theBirminghamScholarframework(see, andtheiradvisers.Weworkverycloselywith
Thegapinattainmentcomparedtoother particularly,ourAccesstoCareersprogramme, theBirminghamChildren’sTrust,ensuringtheir
studentshasfallenfrom5.4%in2014–15 outlinedinSection3(StrategicMeasures). personaladvisershaveanamedcontactto
to2.6%in2017–18.Wenotethatthe discussanyprospectiveorcurrentapplications
gapsfrom2015–16onwardsarenot 1.5 Care leavers totheUniversity.Inaddition,ourUniversityof
statisticallysignificant. Dataoncareleaversisbasedonself- BirminghamSchooladmissionspolicyaffords
identification.Werespectthewishesofthose prioritytoLookedAfterorPreviouslyLooked
Atadetailedlevel,theattainmentofstudents studentswhodeclinetobeidentifiedas Afterchildren.
withdeclaredmentalhealthandsocial careleavers.
communicationdisabilitiesareoutoflinewith Success(non-continuationandattainment)
ourinstitutionalaverage,withanattainment Giventheverysmallcareleaverpopulation Theaggregatedcontinuationrate(2014–15to
gap(tootherstudents)of5%and6.9% attheUniversity(ourcareleaverpopulationin 2018–19)forourcareleaversis91.8%;thisis
respectively,althoughwenotethatthelatter 2018–19waslessthan45,orlessthan0.3% comparedto94.2%forallotherUK-domiciled
gapisbelowthesectorandnotstatistically ofthepopulation),wedonotproposeformal undergraduateentrants.Goodhonours
significant,andinbothcasesstudent targetsaspartofthisPlan(suchsmall attainment(aggregated2015–16to2017–18)
populationsarerelativelysmall(250and populationscanresultinsignificantswingsin was80.0%comparedwith88.3%among
15respectively). performanceonthebasisoftheperformanceof allotherUK-domiciledundergraduateleavers.
oneortwostudents).Insteadwewillcontinue
OfS’KPM5seekstoreducetheattainment todevelopoursuiteofspecificsupport Careleaversareinvitedtoattendanenhanced
gapbetweendisabledandotherstudents. servicesforcareleavers,examplesofwhichwe welcomeeventandsocialnetworkingeventat
Wewill,therefore,committomaintainingour provideaspartoftheself-assessmentbelow. thestartoftheirstudiesatBirmingham,with
positiveperformanceacrossthelifeofthis Ourcommitmenttoprovidingsupport theaimofsupportingtransitionand,ultimately,
Plan.Inrecognitionoftherelativelysmall tocareleaversacrossthestudentlifecycle retention.Careleaversareeligibletoreceivean
populationandtheperformanceswingsthat isdemonstratedbythefactthatwearea accommodationdepositwaiver,receivepriority
smallchangesinabsoluteperformancecan signatorytothe‘TheCareLeaverCovenant’ fortheirfirstchoiceUniversity-ownedhallsof
haveonpercentagegaps,ourtargetwillseek whichispartofthegovernment’sKeepon residenceandflexiblecontractsforUniversity-
toensurethatanygapwillnotincreasetoa Caringstrategytosupportpeopleleaving ownedstudentaccommodation(coveringthe
statisticallysignificantlevel. caretobecomeindependent.Ourcommitment fullcalendaryear).Wearefurtherenhancing
isunderpinnedbyaworkinggroup(with oursupport,followingstudentfeedback,with
Progressiontohighlyskilled membershipincludingtheGuildofStudents) theprovisionofawelcomepackageincluding,
employmentorfurtherstudy whoconsidertheUniversity-widesupport forexample,bedding,kitchenutensilsanda
81.9%ofourstudentswithareporteddisability availabletocareleaversanditsoverall foodvoucher.
achievedahighlyskilledjobin2016–17; effectiveness.
thisis11percentagepointshigherthanthe Progressiontoemploymentorfurtherstudy
sector.Overtheperiodfrom2012–13wehave Access Graduateemployability(aggregatedovertwo
seenacontinuouspositivetrajectory,withthe Todateouraccessinitiativeshavesupported years2015–16and2016–17)forourcare
highlyskilledemploymentgapbetween careleaverstoaccesshighereducationaspart leaverswas91%.Thisshowsthatourcare
disabledandnon-disabledstudentsfallingfrom ofourbroadprogrammeofsupportthrough leaverstudentsaremorelikelytosecurea
6%to-2.6%in2017–18,whereourdisabled PathwaystoBirminghamaswellaspre-16 highlyskilledleveljobthantheaverage
studentpopulationhasahigherhighlyskilled activity.In2018,theUniversityreceivedUCAS (young)Englishstudent8.
employabilityratethantheirnon-disabled applicationsfrom256self-identifiedcare
peers.Thispictureisreplicatedacrossthe leavers,89ofwhichreceivedanoffer.
detailedlevel,withgapsrangingfrom-0.3% Ourintakeofcareleavershasincreasedfrom
forstudentswithmentalhealthdisabilities, ninein2014–15to17in2018–19.Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 12
1. Assessment of performance
(continued)
CareleaversareprioritisedfortheGateway WehaveseenthatBAMEstudentsare resultedinahighlydiversecommunity,witha
Bursarywhichprovidesfinancialsupportto well-representedinourA2Bandlow rangeofeducationalability.In2018–19,66%of
studentsundertakinginternshipsorwork participationintakepopulation,with76%of ourschoolpopulationwerefromBAME
experiencerelevanttotheirfuturecareer(see our(2018–19)A2BintakefromBAME backgrounds,4.8%ofoursecondarypopulation
StrategicMeasuressection),andforthe backgrounds,and11%ofourP4Q1intake comprisedchildrenwithEducationHealthCare
ImpactChallenge.Furtherworkisunderwayto beingofBlackethnicity.Anumberofour Plans(comparedto1.6%forallstate-funded
enhancethesupportweprovidetocareleavers targetsreflecttheoutcomesofthis mainstreamsecondaryschoolsinEngland)and
whoapplyforaplaceonourinternships, inter-sectionalanalysis,particularlyafocus 14.6%wereeligibleforfreeschoolmeals.36%
graduatetrainingprogrammesand onlocallydomiciledBlackstudentsfor ofourintakequalifiedforPremiumFunding
apprenticeships. increasedemployabilitysupport. (comparedwithnationalfiguresof27.9%),and
17.3%hadEnglishasanadditionallanguage.
1.6 Intersections of disadvantage 1.7 Other groups who experience barriers Fromthisdiversecohortwehaveseenreal
Intersectionalanalysishasbeenincorporated in higher education successinsupportingstudentstoprogress
intoouranalysisabove,inordertobetter TheUniversityofBirminghamSchoolwas tohighereducation.80%(112students)of
understandourperformanceandthepotential establishedwithaclearpurposetocreatea the2017–18Alevelcohortgainedplacesat
reasonsunderlyingit.Wehaveshown,for highlydiverseandinclusivestudybody,andthe universities,with43%ofthesestudents
example,thatlocallydomiciledA2BandBlack aimofadvancingtheeducationalprogression, progressingtoRussellGroupinstitutions
studentsarecontributingdisproportionatelyto attainmentandaspirationofBirmingham’s (41%ofwhichenrolledattheUniversity
ourP4Q1highlyskilledemployabilitygap. youngpeople.Ouradmissionspolicyhas ofBirmingham).Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 13
2. Strategic aims
and objectives
Ourambitionisthatstudentswiththepotential ofwideningparticipation.Asoneofthelargest internallyandwherewecanworkinpartnership
tosucceedattheUniversityofBirmingham teachertrainingcentresintheUKwealsohave withthesectortosupportchange.
havetheopportunitytogainaccess,achieve adirectimpactonimprovingthequalityof
theiracademicpotentialandprogress teaching,aswellasincreasingopportunities Weareworkingwithourregionalandnational
successfullytotheirchosencareersorfurther foryoungpeopletobewell-informed, partnerstosupportstudentstoaccessthe
study.Wehaveheldthisambitionsinceour encouragedandengagedasameansto courseandinstitutionthatisrightforthem.
creationin1900,andthroughoutourhistory supportthemtosecurehigherlevelsof ExamplesincludeourNCOP,AimHigher,
havesoughttoprovideleadership,innovation, prioracademicattainment. RealisingOpportunitiescollaborative
andarealistic,evidence-basedapproachto programmesandourstrategicpartnershipwith
studentaccessandparticipation. Werecognisethataddressingmanyofthe UniversityCollegeBirminghamaswellasour
challengesinsecuringequalityofopportunity recentOfS-fundedprogrammewithNewman
WearetheonlyUKUniversitytoopenandown willrequireacoordinatedapproachacrossthe UniversityandUniversityCollegeBirmingham
afullycomprehensive,non-selectivesecondary entireeducationalandemploymentsector. tosupportlocally-domiciledgraduatesinto
trainingschooldedicatedtoraisingthe employment.Weoutlinemoredetailonour
aspirationandthepotentialofitspupils,and Ourstrategyisthereforeadualapproach strategicapproachtodeliveringchangein
thisistestamenttoourbeliefintheimportance recognisingwhereweareabletoeffectchange partnershipwithothersinsection3.1.Access and participation plan 2020–21 to 2024–25 14
2. Strategic aims and objectives
(continued)
2.1 Target groups Area Target groups
Weareawarethat,asinthewidersociety, POLAR4Quintile1applicants;
thereisworktodotoachievetheambition PathwaytoBirminghamcandidates(based
ofequalityofopportunityandoutcome. onabasketofmeasuresofdisadvantage
Theassessmentofperformanceoutlined whichincludesstudentswholiveinareasof
abovehashighlightedthattherearedifferential lowprogressiontohighereducation,whofirst
outcomesacrossthestudentlifecyclebetween generationentrantstohighereducation,who
somestudentgroups.Wearealsoawarethat Access haveahouseholdincomethatisbelowthe
inordertoachievethemostsignificantimpact nationalaverage,whohaveadisabilityand
weneedtoadoptatargetedandfocussed areinreceiptofapersonalindependence
approachtoourinterventionsandsupport; payment,and/orwhoareestrangedfrom
anapproachthatremainstrueto,andreflective parentsorguardians).9
of,ourcivicvalues,ourinstitutionalcontext
andidentity,aswellasthevaluesandpriorities StudentsofBlackandAsianethnicity;
ofourwholestudentbody. Studentswithareporteddisability;
Attainment StudentsfromPOLAR4Quintile1.
Wehavetakenadata-ledandrealisticyet
challengingapproachtoidentifyingthetarget Blackstudents;
groupsandprioritiesoutlinedwithinthisPlan, Locally-domiciledstudentswhojoined
informedby Highly skilled employability theUniversityviaourPathwayto
(i) theOfficeforStudents’Key Birminghamprogrammes.
PerformanceMeasures,
(ii) assessmentofourcurrent
performanceand
(iii) ourbroaderinstitutionalstrategicpriorities.
Wehaveidentifiedthefollowingtarget Wedo,however,recognisetheshiftinnational ambitions.OurspecificAccess-related
groupsforeachstageofthestudent focustoincreasingP4Q1accessbutweare objectives,whichareunderpinnedby
lifecycle: concernedthattheOfStargettoreducethe formalAPPtargets,are:
gapinP4Q1intakeathightariffinstitutions
2.2 Aims and objectives from5:1to3:1isunachievablewithout 1a) toincreasetheproportionofourintake
admittingstudentswhowouldnotbeequipped ofstudentswithmultiplemeasuresof
Aim1:Tocontinuetoexpand,developand tosucceedatBirmingham,(especiallyinSTEM disadvantageto10%by2025,
broadenthereachofourprovenoutreach subjectwhereattainmentinmathsisakey asmeasuredbythepercentageofour
initiativestowidenaccesstohighereducation. requirement)and/oranuncomfortable entrantsthatareadmittedthroughour
Ourobjectivesbuildonourexperiencewhich engineeringofintakewhichwouldbe PathwaystoBirminghamscheme.This
showsthatamulti-dimensionalmeasureof prejudicialtosuitablyqualifiedstudentsfrom representsachallenging77%growthon
disadvantage–whichrecognisesthemultiple quintiles2to5.In2017–18UCASdata thetargetwehavepreviouslysetourselves
andcomplexbackgroundsfromwhichour showedthattherewereonlyc.2700students, (6.2%ofourentrants)andwillnecessitate
studentscome–ispreferabletoasingular nationally,fromP4Q1postcodeswhoachieved amoreflexibleapproachinvolvingwidening
focusonP4Q1cohorts.Asoutlinedearlier, gradesofAABorbetter,comparedtoc. accesstoourpathwayprogrammes.
evidenceshowsthatasingularemphasis 22,000forP4Q5.Indeed,P4Q1students
onthePOLARmethodology,withitsknown accountforonly6.6%(5755)ofthetotal 1b)toreducethegapbetweenthenumberof
limitations(suchasbeingone-dimensional, nationalBBB+applicantpopulation,soeven studentsweadmitfromthemost(P4Q5)
lackinglinkstoeconomicdisadvantageetc.), theimpactofourcontextualofferscheme andleast(P4Q1)representedgroupstoa
risksinterventionsbeingtargetedaway (discountinguptotwogradesagainstour ratioof5:1(from7.4:1)by2025.Inthe
fromthosestudentswiththemostcomplex standardoffer)islimitedinthecontextof longer-term,ascollaborativeinitiativesto
disadvantageandgreatestneed(asevidenced suchasmallnationalpool. addresschallengesinpriorattainment
bytheresearch10showingthatonly13%of begintotakeroot,wewillseektogrow
studentsonfreeschoolmealsliveinP4Q1 Ourobjectives,therefore,seektobalanceour andmaintainourshareofP4Q1students
postcodeareas).Wearealsokeentoensure commitmenttobuildingonourpreviousand inlinewiththenationalgrowthinthepool
thatstudentsfromP4Q2arenotfurther provensuccessesinsupportingaccessacross ofappropriatelyqualifiedstudents.Our
disadvantagedbytheemphasisonP4Q1 multiplemeasuresofdisadvantagealongsidea currentP4Q1ratiois7.4:1.Ourmodelling
students.Wewillthereforecontinueto realisticrealignmentwithnationalambition.We ofintakesuggeststhattoachievearatioof
targetstudentswithmultiplemeasuresof believethatourcombinationofobjectivesto 5:1willrequireustoreduceourintaketariff
disadvantagethroughour Pathways to 2025areambitiousyetrealisticandprovidea toatleasttoBCC,andpotentiallytoCCC
Birminghamprogrammeofaccesssupport. strongfoundationforourlonger-termYou can also read
