Higher Education Performance Indicators, 2008/09

Based on the HESA publication, this Statistical Bulletin includes data for Welsh Higher Education Institutions at a national level up to the 2008/09 academic year. The bulletin updates the statistics previously released on 9 June 2009.

The performance indicators are designed to provide reliable information on the nature and performance of the higher education sector in the UK and a consistent set of measures of this performance. The performance indicators broadly cover widening participation, non-continuation rates and outcomes. Indicators relate to higher education institutions in the individual countries of the UK.

Key results from the performance indicators for Welsh HEIs are:

• The percentage of young, full-time, first degree students entering HE from state schools or colleges in 2008/09 was 93.2 per cent (88.5 per cent for UK HEIs).
• The percentage of young full-time first degree entrants from low socio-economic backgrounds (NS-SEC Classes 4-7) was 32.5 per cent in 2008/09.  The UK comparable figure was 32.3 per cent.
• In 2008/09, 10.2 per cent (10.1 per cent UK) of young full-time first degree entrants and 12 per cent (11.6 per cent UK) of mature full-time first degree entrants came from “low participation neighbourhoods”, the highest rate of all UK countries for mature entrants.
• The percentage of first degree entrants (2007/08) who did not continue in HE following their year of entry (i.e. drop-out or non-continuation) was 7.4 per cent for young full-time entrants and 14.9 per cent for mature full-time entrants. Both figures were higher than the comparable figures for the UK.

Further information

The publication on which the bulletin is based, along with data for each HEI, can be found on the Higher Education Statistics Agency website: Press Office

Comparisons with individual UK countries are contained in the Bulletin. This information can also be found on the StatsWales website.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5043
E-mail: he.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

April 2011 (provisional - to be confirmed on the 'Due Out Soon' page)