Access and Outreach. 5.1 It is a matter of the highest strategic importance to the University that we maintain and improve upon our strong track record for widening access. We calculate that 68% of our full-time undergraduate student population currently falls into one or more of the target groups described in paragraph 5.2 below. 5.2 Our target groups for wider access are learners from the local area, from the lower socio- economic groups, from neighbourhoods with low rates of participation in higher education, from black and minority ethnic groups that are similarly under-represented and from vulnerable groups such as young people leaving care. We seek to widen access to higher education for learners with disabilities and recognise this as a key feature of our widening participation strategy. 5.3 We plan to maintain a broad age range within the student population and we wish therefore to recruit a significant proportion of our students from amongst mature students. 5.4 We also want to continue to ensure that pupils from state schools, including those schools facing significant challenges are able to progress to higher education. 5.5 The University plans actively to build on its achievement as the lead HEI for Aimhigher. We have: 5.5.1 The largest percentage growth in young participation in HE among the 20% most deprived learners in the country at large, except for London. 5.5.2 The largest percentage of UCAS applicants drawn from the most deprived Super Output Areas, an effect attributed both to local demography and to the presence of a local, access-oriented HEI. 5.5.3 An excellent access record in absolute terms, such that:
Appears in 3 contracts
Sources: Access Agreement, Access Agreement, Access Agreement