ABSTRACT

The statistical data on student attainment are said to reveal a marked gap in attainment between students from ethnically minoritised backgrounds and their white counterparts. This chapter examines the research that draws on attainment statistics by examining how the statistical data on attainment was researched and reported. It then explores the statistical evidence in support of the ethnic attainment gap to prevent inaccurate reporting and false knowledge claims and reasoning. Attainment in higher education is measured by the final graduate degree classification using a classification system that is divided into first, upper second, lower second and third class degrees. The Broecke and Nicholls (2007) study included 65,000 UK-domiciled undergraduate students and found that 'after controlling for the majority of factors which would expect to have an impact on attainment, being from a minority ethnic community is still statistically significant in explaining final attainment, although the gap has been significantly reduced'.