Governance News Alert: Office for Students (OfS) Access and participation data dashboard and How student outcomes have changed since 2010 report

The updated access and participation dashboards show yearly data on access, continuation, completion, attainment and progression for UK-domicile students at all institutions in England registered with the OfS across different student characteristics. The time series differs depending on the indicator but generally cover the period 2017/18 or 2018/19 to 2022/23 or 2024/25. Sector level data is provided as well as data for individual providers. Meanwhile the report on student outcomes summarises some of the sector-level trends since 2010. There is unsurprisingly some overlap in the findings displayed on the dashboard and those in the outcomes report. The bullet points below are taken from the dashboard data unless indicated.

The dashboard can be found at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/access-and-participation-data-dashboard/data-dashboard/

The outcomes report can be found at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/vqofzprl/student-characteristics-data-outcomes-report-2025.pdf

This data is primarily relevant for governors and institutions registered in England. Readers from other nations may still find it useful to consider these findings in their own institutional context.

At-a-glance:

• All ethnic groups, apart from white, have increased participation in HE. White students as a share have fallen from 71.2 per cent in 2018/19 to 62.6 per cent in 2024/25
• The proportion of UK undergraduate entrants to HE from the most deprived quintile (Index of Multiple Deprivation) has increased from 20.7 per cent in 2018/19 to 24.8 per cent in 2024/25. However, on the free school meal eligibility (FSM) indicator, proportions dropped from 19.5 per cent to 17.7 per cent. Meanwhile the proportion of least deprived students fell from 21.2 per cent to 18.6 per cent
• Mature student (over 25) participation levels have risen from 25.5 per cent in 2018/19 to 29.9 per cent in 2024/25. However, young entrants have higher continuation rates than mature entrants. The differences in continuation rates rose steadily between 2014-15 and 2020-21, when it reached 9.4 percentage points. The difference decreased slightly to 9.2 percentage points in 2021-22 and 2022-23 (outcomes report)
• Continuation rates for first year students in the most deprived quintile, at 83.5 per cent, were significantly lower than those for the least deprived students, at 93.1 per cent. Continuation rates for quintile 1 (lowest participation) seem to have deteriorated; the most deprived students were more likely to continue to their next year in 2017/18 than in 2022/23. Also The completion rate for the least deprived undergraduates in 2019/20 was 92.5 per cent, compared to 81.4 per cent for the most deprived
• Black students had the lowest continuation rate at 85 per cent in 2022/23, compared to a rate of 89.3 for white students, the group with the highest rate. Continuation rates across all ethnicities were higher in 2017/18 than in 2022/23. Also white students were more likely to finish their studies than all other ethnic groups in 2019/20, with a completion rate of 88.5 compared with 81 per cent for Black students
• Entrants reporting a disability have risen by 4.4 percentage points over the period to 20.2 per cent. Students reporting a disability are more likely to continue with their studies than those not reporting one (88.6 per cent against 88.2 per cent), but over the time period the continuation rate for disabled students has fallen slightly from 89.6 per cent
• 68.5 per cent of the most deprived students gained a good degree (first or upper second class) in 2023/24. The figure for the least deprived was 86.3 per cent. The size of the gap has remained fairly constant since 2018/19
• The ethnicity awarding gap is most significant between white and black students. In 2023/24, 60.6 per cent of black students were awarded a good degree, compared to 81 per cent of white students. The gap has slightly narrowed over the period
• Disabled students were more likely to gain a first or a 2:1 than their non-disabled peers in 2023/24
• Female entrants have higher continuation, completion and attainment rates than male entrants, with the difference in the rate of continuation increasing year on year since 2010. For 2022-23 entrants the difference was 4.2 percentage points (outcomes report)
• 66.1 per cent of the most deprived students had progressed into professional, managerial employment, further study or other positive outcomes in 2022/23, 15 months after graduating, compared to 76.1 per cent of the least deprived
• White and mixed heritage students had the best progression outcomes at around 72 per cent, compared to 67.9 per cent of the Other category, which had the lowest progression outcomes, and 69.1 per cent of black students
• Unlike in continuation and attainment, graduates who reported a disability have consistently lower progression rates than those who did not. In 2022-23, the progression rate for students with a disability was 70.3 per cent compared with 71.4 per cent for those who have not. While the gap persists, it is now the smallest it has been across the time series at 1.1 percentage points (outcomes report)
• Across all age groups, types of disability, ethnic groups and sexes, graduates in 2022-23 had lower progression rates than those in 2021-22. There was also a decline in response rates to the Graduate Outcomes survey (outcomes report)

Implications for governance:

Governors will know from signing off on their most recent access and participation plans covering 2025/26 to 2028/29 the specific risks to equality of opportunity that are most pressing at their institutions, and will no doubt be aware of plans in place to address them.

The OfS data dashboard and the report showing outcomes since 2010 give the sector-wide picture, as well as trends over time, on access, continuation, completion, degree attainment and employment and progression outcomes for home students at providers in England, broken down by student characteristics.

Governors may be interested to discover whether the changes over time can be observed at their own institution and what the data looks like at similar and competitor providers.

The key trends will be familiar. Disadvantaged students have significantly lower participation, continuation, completion, attainment and progression rates than their more affluent peers. On some measures of deprivation, improvement in access in recent years suggests efforts by university outreach teams are paying off. However, access data based on other measures, such as Free School Meals, suggests a less positive picture. 

Rising participation rates for most ethnic groups and students reporting a disability show that institutions in England are achieving greater diversity of intakes.

Continuation rates beyond the first year will be of particular interest to governors, given they are a key part of the OfS B3 conditions of registration. The difference in continuation between different groups of students highlights the need for targeted work to support undergraduates, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and black students, groups who are likely to overlap somewhat. 

For the first time in the time series, black students did not have the lowest continuation rate in 2022/23. The “other” ethnic group is now in that position, with a rate of 84. 5 per cent. Neither the data dashboard nor the report delves into the make-up of the “other” category, but if these students are not thriving, it may be necessary to look more closely at who is in this group. 

The gap in continuation rates for black entrants compared to white entrants has decreased for the second year in a row, going from 5.2 percentage points in 2021-22 to 3.9 percentage points for in 2022-23.

Continuation rates generally are lower than in 2017/18, according to the data. While the factors behind this will be complex, they could include cost of living concerns and the well documented rise in mental health issues among young people.

The groups that are more likely to drop out are also those with lower degree attainment if they do complete their course. Institutions have been focusing on trying to narrow awarding gaps and there has been a slight movement in the right direction in difference by ethnicity, for instance. However, the attainment gap between the most and least deprived has proved more difficult to shift.

Progression to graduate level and worthwhile employment or further study is a B3 condition and improving employability has been a major governance theme in recent years. Improvements have been made: for instance, a closing of the gap between outcomes for disabled students and those without a reported disability.  Generally, however, the data seems to reflect a tougher jobs market for some groups in recent years. The OfS report accompanying the data highlights that across all age groups, types of disability, ethnic groups and sexes, graduates in 2022-23 had lower progression rates than those in 2021-22. 

Opportunities for undergraduates to have meaningful contact with potential employers, in the form of work placements and years in industry for instance, are becoming an increasingly sought-after element to degree courses. Governors will know that ensuring their institutions have the necessary structures and processes in place to maximise engagement with employers and businesses is more important than ever.

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