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The University of Bradford has once again shown its commitment to widening participation in higher education after performing well in the latest figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) today.

For the first time, HESA is publishing the figures on behalf of Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE). The indicators provide comparative data on the performance of institutions in widening participation, student retention, learning and teaching output and research. They cover publicly funded higher education institutions in the UK.

Professor Geoff Layer (Pro-Vice Chancellor, Learning and Teaching) said: " The latest national performance indicators continue to demonstrate the major achievement of the University of Bradford. We are at the forefront nationally for recruiting students from low-income families and outperform the sector on average by 12%. Most importantly, the indicators show that if you come to Bradford, we help you to succeed."

Included in the figures, the data shows;

46% of full-time first degree entrants at Bradford in 2002/03 were from families who do not traditionally access higher education (NS-SEC classes 4,5,6&7) compared with a benchmark of 36% and the national average of 28%

Some 17.1% of all young full-time undergraduate entrants were from low participation neighbourhoods, compared with a national average of 14%

Some 94% of full-time first degree entrants at Bradford in 2002/03 were from state schools or colleges, compared with a benchmark of 92% and the national average of 87%.

Of the 8 Universities in Yorkshire, Bradford ranked 1st in first degree entrants who were from families who do not traditionally access higher education.

From the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES)

Working class heroes - Universities with highest participation rates form the lower social class groups among young full-time undergraduate entrants

Original data source: HESA. Table published in The Times Higher, October 1 2004

Media note:

For further media information only, please contact Emma Banks in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/9, alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 236280.

Note to Editors:

1. Full text and tables of Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK 2002/03 can be found on the HESA website at www.hesa.ac.uk/pi (external link, will open in a new browser window). As in previous years, the indicators are set out in separate tables. Not all higher education institutions feature in every table. Performance indicators for previous years have been published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and are available at www.hefce.ac.uk/pi (external link, will open in a new browser window)

2. For the 2001 census, a new classification, National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC), was developed to replace the social class indicator. It took into account new work patterns in the UK, and the changes in education levels required for, and the status of, large numbers of occupations. This new classification was used for the socio-economic classification (SEC) PI this year. The 'low' SEC indicator includes the following categories:

• 4 Small employers and own account workers
• 5 Lower supervisory and technical occupations
• 6 Semi-routine occupations
• 7 Routine occupations

3. HESA is the central source for higher education statistics. HESA was set-up in 1993 following a Government White Paper Higher Education: A New Framework, which called for more coherence in higher education statistics. www.hesa.ac.uk (external link, will open in a new browser window)

Further information for Media Enquirers

For further media information, please contact Rachael Ellis or Emma Banks in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/9 or 07879 437986. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 236280.

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