ABSTRACT
In this section of the chapter we focus on the retention of different types of student (particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds) in higher education, using similar data and methods of analysis as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, and we also present the results of an analysis of the degree class achieved by students. Gender (Richardson and Woodley 2003; McNabb et al. 2002; Chapman 1996), disability (Purcell et al. 2005), ethnicity (Connor et al. 2004; Purcell et al. 2005; Broecke and Nicholls 2007) and social class (Johnes 1990; Smith and Naylor 2001) have all been found to be significantly associated with non-completion or degree class or both.
