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Exploring historical trends in widening participation: what can we learn from data on the uptake of OU courses in deprived areas of the UK

Dr Terry Di Paolo

Dr Jonathan Hughes

CWP Conference June 2010

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Purpose of research

• The OU needs to have a better understanding of the context and impact of its own WP work– Part of the Open University’s activity centred on

Eccleshill• Explore ways in which OU could learn more about the:

– Impact of WP work– Aspirations in the community– Agents/networks influencing aspiration and access

• Look at ways in which we can better understand the local (in particular the OU) effect

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Eccleshill• 1 of 30 wards in

Metropolitan District of Bradford

• 2001 Census population 16, 769

• 95% White• 40% aged 16+

have no formal qualifications

Figure 1: Ward boundaries in Bradford Metropolitan District with Eccleshill highlighted.

© Crown Copyright Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. Source: Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

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Exploring local deprivation• Use the Indices of Multiple

Deprivation (2007)• Offers comparison across

England using government data

• IMD segments England into 32, 428 LSOAs

• Reports on seven deprivation domains– income

– employment

– health and disability

– education, skills and training

– barriers to housing and services

– crime

– living environment

Figure: Overall deprivation in Eccleshill from IMD 2007© Crown Copyright Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. Source: Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Partner Closeout Meeting Feb 2010

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Eccleshill in the context of England

LSOA National Rank

Ravenscliffe 433

Upper Fagley 797

Greengates 905

Eccleshill Village (Stonegate) 1983

Greengates and Thorpedge 3229

Eccleshill Village (Victoria Road)

6143

Fagley South 9648

Eccleshill Village (The Mount) 10324

Fagley North 11651

Eccleshill (the Delph) 12167

Eccleshill Village (Pullan Avenue)

17832

LSOA National Rank

Ravenscliffe 58

Greengates 169

Eccleshill Village (Stonegate) 1024

Upper Fagley 1199

Greengates and Thorpedge 1878

Eccleshill Village (Victoria Road)

4479

Eccleshill Village (The Mount) 5620

Fagley North 6119

Eccleshill (the Delph) 9131

Fagley South 9377

Eccleshill Village (Pullan Avenue)

12348

Rank of overall deprivation score Rank of education, training and skills deprivation score

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IMD 2007 data

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Raven

scliff

e

Gre

engat

es

Eccle

shill

Village

(Sto

negat

e)

Upper

Fag

ley

Gre

engat

es a

nd T

horp

edge

Eccle

shill

Village

(Vict

oria

Road)

Eccle

shill

Village

(The

Mou

nt)

Fagle

y Nor

th

Eccle

shill

(the

Delph)

Fagle

y Sout

h

Eccle

shill

Village

(Pul

lan A

venu

e)

No HE Adults (25-54) No/Low Quals

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Engagement with the OU• 207 “students” in total

since 1971• 60% female• Mean age approx 30• 20% at least 1 A-level or

equivalent• 10% have past HE

experience

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Student recruitment since the 1970’s

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A closer look at recruitment• 43% - 90 students did not progress past registration or reservation

on a module. • 14% - 30 students failed or did not achieve a pass on the first

course they studied and subsequently ended their studies. • 28 completed two or more modules – less than half continuing• 38 students completed and at least one module but only 10

students appeared to be continuing with their studies. • 8 students ended their studies when they experienced their first

fail• 7 Graduates

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Active students• Total students Active students

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Graduates mapped• Total • Graduates

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Interviews with adults –exploring the ‘now’

• Informants included– 3 Openings Students – 3 non-Openings

Students. – One informal group

interview with 8 non-Openings Students taking an adult literacy class

• All those interviewed were female

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Adults: an overview of the findings

• Deprivation linked to not going on to higher education and no/low formal qualifications

• The Open University is making a difference – but why do so few complete their studies with a degree?

• A few are uncomfortable about going into colleges – preferring more familiar places.

• Families help and hinder learning. Their encouragement and support, financial and emotional is vital.

• Openings courses are for people with no qualifications. The level is still too high for people who left school at the age of 16 with no qualifications.

Two key questionsIs there value in looking at local historical trends?• Provides useful insights• Builds on anecdotal evidence

What are the challenges of trend analysis?

On-going work

• Joint work COBE/CWP• Blackburn and London• Focus on what effects OU partnership working has on

local communities• And what effect this has on the OU