An Analysis of School-Based Contextual Indicators for Possible Use in Widening Participation

Gorard, S.; Siddiqui, N.; Boliver, V.

Abstract

This paper looks at the National Pupil Database for England in terms of variables that could be used by universities to help them assess undergraduate applications. Where a young person is obviously disadvantaged, this can be taken into account in contextualised admissions. Of the indicators available, which give the most accurate assessment of that context—singly or in combination? This paper looks at missing data, and what is known about students for whom data is missing. It looks at changes in indicators of potential disadvantage over time. And it looks at the relationship between all indicators and student attainment and progress at school. The safest and clearest indicators are the sex (male) and age in year (summer born) of a student but neither of these is currently considered in widening participation. Otherwise, the best general indicator is eligibility for free school meals (poverty), and this is best computed as the number of years a student has been known to be eligible. Having a special educational need is also a promising indicator, but doubts are raised about its validity and it anyway covers a wide range of factors, some of which are already dealt with by the education system. Very few students registered as living in care continue in education post-16, and this indicator could be used safely and to advantage. The rest, including area measures, school type, performance relative to school, ethnicity and first language are generally not safe to use.

Citation

Gorard, S., Siddiqui, N., & Boliver, V. (2017). An Analysis of School-Based Contextual Indicators for Possible Use in Widening Participation. Higher Education Studies, 7(2), Article 79. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v7n2p79

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 21, 2017
• Publication Date: May 21, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 23, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 24, 2017
• Journal: Higher Education Studies
• Print ISSN: 1925-4741
• Electronic ISSN: 1925-475X
• Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education (CCSE)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 79
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v7n2p79
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1357788