Widening participation in higher education
Academic year 2022/23

Description

This document describes the data included in the Widening Participation in Higher Education: 2022/23 Official Statistics release’s underlying data files.

The methodology document attached to this release should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

The release covers two measures of progression to Higher Education by age 19.

The first shows progression to HE by pupil characteristics for pupils aged 15 in English state-funded schools and special schools (including non-maintained special schools).

The second relates to progression to HE by school type for pupils aged 17 who were entered for A levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications at English schools and colleges.

File formats and conventions

Rounding

We are removing rounding and suppression of data where possible in order to maximise the utility of the statistics while minimising the risk of disclosure.

More information about the Departmental policy on confidentiality can be found here:

External_Confidentiality_Policy (opens in a new tab) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/773124/External_confidentiality_policy.pdf)

Data relating to Children in Need and Looked After children is rounded to the nearest percentage for rates and to the nearest 10 for counts of pupils given the sensitivity of these statistics.

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘x’ Not applicable

‘c’ Confidential

Data files

All Characteristics

Filename: all_characteristics.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by pupil characteristics

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
breakdown                          |  characteristic
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate

Footnotes:

1. Note that progression rates can be volatile over time due to the very small number of pupils in some categories. This is particularly the case for Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils


Free School Meals

Filename: fsm.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2005/06 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Free School Meal eligibility

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
fsm_status                         |  Free School Meal Status
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate


Free School Meals - Gap

Filename: fsm_gap.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2005/06 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Free School Meal eligibility(including progression rate gap)

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                         |  Variable description
------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------
high_tariff_progression_rate          |  High Tariff HE Progression Rate
high_tariff_progression_rate_fsm      |  High Tariff HE Progression Rate (FSM)
high_tariff_progression_rate_gap      |  High Tariff Progression Rate Gap
high_tariff_progression_rate_non_fsm  |  High Tariff HE Progression Rate (Non-FSM)
progression_rate                      |  HE Progression Rate
progression_rate_fsm                  |  HE Progression Rate (FSM)
progression_rate_gap                  |  Progression Rate Gap
progression_rate_non_fsm              |  HE Progression Rate (Non-FSM)

Footnotes:

1. The progression rate gap is the difference (in percentage points) between the HE progression rates of pupils who were eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) at age 15 and those who were not eligible for FSM at age 15


Free School Meals, Sex and Ethnic Group

Filename: fsm_sex_ethnicity.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Free School Meal eligibility, Sex and Ethnic Group

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
ethnicity_minor                    |  Ethnic Group
fsm_status                         |  Free School Meal Status
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate
sex                                |  Sex

Footnotes:

1. Note that progression rates can be volatile over time due to the very small number of pupils in some categories. This is particularly the case for Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils


Free School Meals, Sex and Ethnic Group - Region

Filename: fsm_sex_ethnicity_region.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Free School Meal eligibility, Sex and Ethnic Group - Regional level

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
ethnicity_major                    |  Ethnic Group
fsm_status                         |  Free School Meal Status
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate
sex                                |  Sex


Sex

Filename: sex.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Sex

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate
sex                                |  Sex


Ethnicity

Filename: ethnicity.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Ethnic Group

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
ethnicity_minor                    |  Ethnic Group
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate

Footnotes:

1. Note that progression rates can be volatile over time due to the very small number of pupils in some categories. This is particularly the case for Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils


Special Educational Needs

Filename: sen.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2009/10 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by Special Educational Need Status

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of Pupils
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate
sen_status                         |  SEN Status


School Type

Filename: school_type.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008/09 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by School Type

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                      |  Variable description
---------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------
a_level_status                     |  A level status
establishment_type                 |  School Type
high_tariff_progression_rate       |  HE Progression Rate (High Tariff)
number_of_he_students              |  Number of HE Students
number_of_high_tariff_he_students  |  Number of HE Students (High Tariff)
number_of_students                 |  Number of KS5 Students
progression_rate                   |  HE Progression Rate

Footnotes:

1. Note that figures from 2017/18 are not directly comparable with earlier years due to a change in the cohort


School Type - Gap

Filename: school_type_gap.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008/09 to 2022/23
Content summary: Progression to HE by School Type (including progression rate gap)

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                             |  Variable description
----------------------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------
a_level_status                            |  A level status
high_tariff_progression_rate_gap          |  High Tariff Progression Rate Gap
high_tariff_progression_rate_independent  |  High Tariff HE Progression Rate (Independent)
high_tariff_progression_rate_state        |  High Tariff HE Progression Rate (State)
progression_rate_gap                      |  Progression Rate Gap
progression_rate_independent              |  HE Progression Rate (Independent)
progression_rate_state                    |  HE Progression Rate (State)

Footnotes:

1. The progression rate gap is the difference (in percentage points) between the HE progression rates of students who attended independent schools and those who attended state-funded schools at Key Stage 5
2. Note that figures from 2017/18 are not directly comparable with earlier years due to a change in the cohort


Tariff Groups

Filename: tariff_group.csv
Geographic levels: Provider
Time period: 2008/09 to 2022/23
Content summary: HE providers by tariff group

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ------------
mean_tariff      |  Mean Tariff
tariff_grouping  |  Tariff Group

Footnotes:

1. Mean tariff scores relate to the tariff points that were in place at the time. The maximum tariff score was 360 points until 2010/11 when the A* grade was introduced. The maximum score was then 420 until 2017/18 when the tariff points were revised. From 2017/18 onwards the maximum tariff score is 168 UCAS points (3 A levels at A* or equivalent). More details on tariff points are available on the UCAS website: UCAS Tariff Points - what are they and how do they work? (https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/entry-requirements/ucas-tariff-points)
