Press Release - Staying the course: the retention of
students in higher education
26 July 2007
Four out of five students starting a full-time course in England
are expected to complete their course, the NAO reported today. The
United Kingdom's performance on retention compares favourably with
most other OECD countries, during a period of expansion in higher
education.
In a new report to Parliament, published as students await their
A level results, the NAO states that there is a strong likelihood
that new full-time undergraduates on higher education courses will
stay on and complete their studies. The report identifies scope for
further improvements, for example in the minority of higher
education institutions where retention has declined in recent
years, and to support part-time students who face particular
challenges and have lower rates of retention.
Today's report shows a small improvement in 2004-05 in the rate of
new full-time undergraduates in England expected to complete their
course compared with 1999-2000, achieved during a period of
expansion in higher education. At the same time, around 28,000
full-time and 87,000 part-time undergraduates starting in 2004-05
did not continue to a second year of study. Thirty institutions
suffered a fall of at least one percentage point in their
continuation rates of first year students since 2001-02, while 42
institutions' continuation rates improved by at least one
percentage point.
Student retention rates vary between institutions, reflecting a
range of factors including how well students did in their previous
studies and whether they are studying full or part time.
Institutions such as St George's Hospital Medical School (98.8 per
cent) and the University of Oxford (98.6 per cent) have very high
rates for full-time students continuing into their second year,
partly reflecting the high entry criteria for students. Other
institutions have lower rates (81.6 per cent was the lowest), and
these partly reflect a more diverse student population.
There is a balance to be struck between widening participation
(opening higher education up to people who might not traditionally
have considered university) while improving retention, because
students from different backgrounds need different support to
complete their courses successfully. Participation has been
increasing and widening gradually (between 1999-2000 and 2005-06,
participation increased from 39 per cent to 43 per cent of people
aged between 18 and 30 years), at the same time as retention rates
have increased.
The gap between the best and worst performing institutions remains
similar to 2001-02. Each institution has a continuation benchmark,
which is calculated based on sector averages and takes account of
the courses it offers and the qualifications of its students. The
Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) arrangements
for funding institutions (which are based on the numbers of
students completing their year) and the publication of performance
statistics provide incentives to institutions to maintain and
improve retention, and the majority of institutions? actual
retention rates are above or very close to their benchmark. Nearly
a fifth of institutions? actual retention rates were at least two
percentage points below their retention benchmark, and it is
generally these institutions that need the most support and
encouragement to improve their performance.
The number of students declaring a disability entering higher
education has increased by over two-thirds between 2000-01 and
2005-06, from 82,000 to 138,000. Today's report states that
students with a disability who obtain Disabled Students' Allowances
are more likely to continue their course. However, the proportion
of students receiving the Allowances vary widely between
institutions and the report found that receipt of the Allowances
among part-time students is low.
The report's recommendations include that the Higher Education
Funding Council should develop performance indicators for the
retention of part-time students and commission research into
students' receipt of disability allowances. Higher education
institutions, which operate autonomously, should reinforce and
further develop support to students, and should evaluate and share
good practice more widely. Every institution should have a clear
strategy for retention, based on a good understanding of their
students, and communicate it clearly to all parts of the
organisation, so that all students can benefit from consistently
good support.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said
today:
"Compared to most other countries, a high proportion of
students in higher education are successfully completing their
courses. This is a good achievement at a time when higher education
is being opened up to more students. But variations in retention
rates between higher education institutions indicate that retention
could be increased further, bringing major benefits to the extra
students who would complete their studies and more value to the
taxpayer and the economy from the public funds expended on higher
education."
Notes for Editors
- The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has
overall responsibility for the performance of public spending in
higher education in England. There is a public service agreement
target to increase participation in higher education by 2010
towards 50 per cent of those aged 18-30 and also make significant
progress year on year towards fair access, and bear down on rates
of non-completion.
- The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a
non-departmental public body with responsibility for accounting for
the proper use of public money, and providing assurance that the
higher education sector is managed effectively and that value for
money is being achieved. For the academic year 2006-07, the Funding
Council allocated £6.7 billion to the sector. Of this amount, £345
million was allocated to institutions to support their efforts at
widening participation and improving retention.
- The Higher Education Statistics Agency produces the Higher
Education Performance Indicators, which include statistics on
institutions' retention of students. The table can be found here:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/pi/home.htm
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the
head of the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He
and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 39/07
All enquiries to Neil Gadhok, NAO Press Office:
Tel: 020 7798 7020
Mobile: 07796 940746