Official statistic: Key performance measure 3
Updated April 2020: Please note there has been a change in the population used to derive this measure since the last update. Further details can be found under 'Changes to the measure' further down the page.
Gap in non-continuation between most and least represented groups
4.4 percentage points
In 2017-18, there was a difference of 4.4 percentage points between the non-continuation rates of the most and the least represented groups.
What does this show?
To benefit from higher education, students often need to have completed their studies or made substantial progress through them.
Data shows that students from the least represented groups are less likely to do so. This measure compares the rate of non-continuation for these groups. We are focusing our efforts here because for many students, it is a necessary condition for other benefits of higher education.
The gap in non-continuation has seen very little change since 2014-15.
Get the data
Updates
First publication.
Correction of an error that prevented the population from being restricted to 18-30 year olds as required by the definition of the KPM. It was originally published based on the non-continuation rates among 18-20 year olds.
Update to include data for academic year 2016-17 and change to population used to derive measure (change from England domiciled entrants to UK domiciled entrants).
Update to include data for academic year 2017-18 and change to population used to derive measure:
- age is now defined based on age at 31 August at age of entry rather than 30 September
- the level of study definition has changed to align with our access and participation data dashboard definitions.
About the measure
The measure uses the rate of non-continuation among 18-30 year olds between the first and second year of their study by POLAR quintile.
- Frequency: Annual
- Population: UK-domiciled entrants (aged 18-30) to full-time undergraduate courses at English higher education providers
- Data Sources: Individual student data from HESA, the Individualised Learner Record from ESFA, and the POLAR classification of postcodes
- Available: January, 18 months after the end of the academic year in which a student enters higher education
Changes to the measure
In order to further align with the student and graduate populations considered in other measures published by the Office for Students and the access and participation dashboard, we have updated this KPM to align with the changes made to the population of students included in the dashboard. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a delay in publication of the documentation regarding these changes. It will be made available as soon as possible.
A summary of the changes made to KPM 3 in each release can be found in the data file associated with this release.
Feedback
If you have any queries about the statistics published as KPM 3, please contact William Rimington at [email protected].
If you have any queries about our overall approach or on individual measures, please contact Josh Fleming at [email protected].
Last updated 02 April 2020 + show all updates
02 April 2020 - Annual update and change in population
21 March 2019 - Annual update and change to population used
16 November 2018 - Correction of an error
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