ADR Wales Skills and Employability programme leads Rhys Davies and Dr Katy Huxley partnered with the Wales Centre for Public Policy to explore equity in tertiary education in Wales.
Commissioned by Welsh Government to assess the current landscape, the team undertook complex analysis of multiple data sources to examine the pathways taken through tertiary education across a wide range of personal characteristics.
They explored key questions such as:
- Who continues in education after age 16?
- What type of programme do they enrol in?
- What kind of institution do they attend?
The team linked extensive school education records to sixth form, further education college, and higher education data, along with Census 2011 data.
Their report to Medr – the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales – highlighted that young people from more socioeconomically deprived backgrounds are less likely to progress to tertiary education and are more likely to enter vocational rather than academic pathways.
By using linked data, the team provided a far more detailed analysis than had previously been possible. Traditional education inequality research often relies on a binary distinction based on free school meal eligibility. Rhys and Katy’s work incorporated a broader range of indicators, including census-based deprivation measures, and parental education and employment. They also examined sex-based patterns – such as a stronger female presence in A-Level pathways and higher education – and highlighted the significant barriers faced by learners with additional learning needs or disabilities.
The team continues to work with Medr to deliver robust, innovative evidence to inform the future of tertiary education policy in Wales.