Sir Peter Lampl comments on UCAS applications data

Responding to the UCAS end of cycle applications data, Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust, said today:

“The continuing growth in disadvantaged applicants is welcome, and will narrow the access gap. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gap, particularly to the most selective universities, and a worrying dip this year in mature applicants.

 “The decline in mature applicants comes after recent data confirmed a big drop in part-timers since the fees increase: mature and part-time students are almost 40% of all students and their decline is a blow to efforts to increase our low level of social mobility. Today’s data also confirms a widening gender gap that has been growing since the fees hike which is particularly worrying for white working class boys. “