This morning, the Scottish Funding Council released its annual report on progress toward widening access to higher education in Scotland (sometimes shortened to the ROWA report).
Disappointment is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the headline statistics.
The number of entrants (referring to Scottish-domiciled, full-time, first-degree entrants to higher education institutions) from Scotland’s 20 per cent most deprived areas fell for the first time since the commitment to widen access was made in 2016-17: the 5,310 in 2022-23 was down from 5,595 in 2021-22); and the proportion of the same group fell for the second year in succession (16.3 per cent in 2022-23, down from 16.5 per cent in 2021-22, and 16.7 per cent in 2020-21).
Indeed, we need to go back to 2018-19 to find a time when the share of entrants to higher education in Scotland from the country’s 20 per cent most deprived areas was lower than in 2022-23.
Disappointment extends beyond numbers
My disappointment extends beyond numbers. I am disappointed for the individuals from Scotland’s most deprived areas whose potential is not being realised, and for those from universities, colleges and schools whose best efforts and sterling work in promoting access to higher education are not reflected in this data.
Self-evidently, work to widen access to higher education must be strengthened if we are to achieve the ambitious targets of achieving 18 per cent of entrants from Scotland’s 20 per cent most deprived areas by 2026, and 20 per cent by 2030.
All is far from lost, and there is some evidence of progress in the ROWA report. For example, six of Scotland’s higher-education institutions increased the number of entrants from Scotland’s most deprived areas between 2021-22 and 2022-23, while seven increased their share.
It is also important to acknowledge that - important as the new statistics are - the Report on Widening Access 2022-23 presents historical data.
Much more positively, the latest data from the university admissions service Ucas on acceptances to Scottish higher-education institutions for 2024-25 indicates more positive trends over the number and proportion of acceptances of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas. (Note that this data is not directly comparable to ROWA as it does not include the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; it also refers to Scottish-domiciled students who have been accepted to higher-education institutions outside Scotland.)
New record high
The Ucas data shows that the number and proportion of Scottish-domiciled accepted applicants from Scotland’s 20 per cent most deprived areas increased between 2023 and 2024 (from 5,480 to 6,120; that is, from 15.8 per cent to 16.5 per cent of all acceptances).
Indeed, this represents a new record high in the number and proportion of accepted applicants from Scotland’s most deprived areas, as well as a record percentage year-on-year increase.
Although the ROWA data released today is disappointing, there is scope for progress. Indeed, there are signs that progress is being made - and a strong will to achieve this among those charged with the responsibility of widening access to higher education in Scotland.
Professor John McKendrick is Scotland’s commissioner for fair access
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