The student voice in widening access to Higher Education in England

Widening participation policies in England since 2004 appear to have been effective to some extent. To use just one measure, the proportion of learners eligible for free school meals (indicating socio-economic disadvantage) who progressed to Higher Education by the age of 19 rose from 13 per cent to 18 per cent between 2005 and 2009. In the same period participation of those not eligible for free school meals rose from 33 per cent to 36 per cent (BIS 2012). Although inequalities continued to exist, the gap seemed to be narrowing.