• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Gap between poorer Cumbria students and peers going to university rising

by CWH
18 October 2021
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Picture: PA

The gap between poorer Cumbria students and their more affluent peers attending university has risen, figures show.

The Sutton Trust said the university access gap across England – which is as large now as it was 14 years ago – is evidence of “stubborn and ingrained inequalities” in the education system.

Data from the Department for Education shows that of 448 students in Cumbria who received free school meals at the age of 15, 47 (10.5 per cent) were at university in 2019-20 – down from 14.4 per cent the year before.

Of 4,711 other pupils in the area not on free school meals, 37.4 per cent were studying in higher education at the age of 19, which was also down from 37.7 per cent in 2018-19.

This meant that the progression rate gap between poorer pupils and non-disadvantaged students rose to 26.9 percentage points last year – up from 23.2 in 2018-19.

Across England, 26.6 per cent of pupils who received free school meals at age 15 were participating in higher education in 2019-20, compared to 45.7 per cent of those who did not receive meals.

At 19.1 percentage points, this gap is the widest it has been since 2005-06, and varies significantly throughout the country.

In Wokingham, in the South East, the difference was 40.9, compared to just 7.1 in the London borough of Westminster.

The Sutton Trust, which campaigns for equal access to high quality education, called for further Government funding to address the problem, as well as more support from universities for low-income students.

James Turner, chief executive of the charity, added: “The fact that the university access gap for children on free school meals has not closed at all in the past decade, shows just how stubborn and ingrained inequalities are in our system.

“The COVID-19 pandemic means that the divide between disadvantaged students and their classmates is likely to become even wider, but there is an urgency to act now to prevent the gaps widening still further.”

The gap between the numbers of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students entering more selective universities also rose to 8.0 percentage points in 2019-20 in England.

In Cumbria, just 2.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals progressed to high-tariff institutions – universities with higher entry requirements – by the age of 19, compared with 10.5 per cent of those not eligible.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The educational attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers starts early in life and then continues to widen.

“Money is not the whole answer, but it is important nonetheless and there has to be more Government investment in early years education, schools and colleges, and in tackling child poverty.”

A DfE spokesman said a greater proportion of disadvantaged pupils are going to university than ever, but that there is more to do.

He added: “Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access a world-class education remains a top priority, and we expect universities to do all they can to help disadvantaged students.”

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
Former Appleby mayor Frank Harland

Former Appleby mayor Frank Harland

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald