Risks to equality of opportunity

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University of Nottingham > Access and participation plan > Risks to equality of opportunity

Through an analysis of the Office for Students' (OfS) access and participation plan (APP) dashboard, the University of Nottingham's (UoN) internal data, student consultation, and the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register (EORR), UoN has identified several indications of risk to equality of opportunity. In this plan, the most pressing of these indications of risk will be addressed. These indications of risk have been categorised according to the student lifecycle.

Benchmarking groups have been used to aid the analysis of our performance: the key groups are the Sector, the Russell Group and our Core Competitor Group. More details about these groups are articulated within section Annex A alongside the comprehensive analysis of UoN's performance assessment.

To identify the underlying risk as seen in the EORR, alongside desk-based analysis, consultation has taken place with both staff and students as explained in the Student Consultation section of this plan.

Access

Risk A

There is a lower proportion of students at UoN who are from Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Quintile 1 when compared to Quintile 5. Analysis shows that UoN has a larger gap than the sector, Russell Group and Core Competitor Group.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of knowledge and skills, a lack of information and guidance, perceptions of higher education and application success rates.

Risk B

There is a lower proportion of students at UoN who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) compared to the sector and national population data versus those who have not been eligible. Analysis shows that a lower proportion of FSM students compared to the national population apply to study at UoN. The FSM students who do apply typically have lower tariff scores, leading to a reduced offer rate. However, UoN's matriculation rates are similar for FSM when compared to non-FSM students.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of knowledge and skills, information and guidance, perceptions of higher education and application success rates.

Continuation

Risk C

Despite the continuation rates of UoN's Black students being higher than the Core Competitor Group, there is a small continuation gap between Black and White students at UoN. Sector-level analysis shows that this gap is smaller than the sector's gap. UoN also has smaller continuation gaps for all ethnic groups when compared to the sector.

Using the EORR and internal analysis, this indication of risk may be caused by insufficient academic support and a reduced sense of belonging.

Risk D

There is a continuation gap between mature and young students at UoN. Progress has been made in closing this gap through our previous APP 2020-2025. The gap at UoN is smaller than the sector, Russell Group and Core Competitor Group.

Evidence suggests that some institutional structural issues contribute to this indication of risk, which aligns with EORR risks such as insufficient academic support, cost pressures and capacity issues.

Completion

Risk E

There is a completion gap between mature and young students. UoN's gap is smaller than that of the Russell Group and Core Competitor Group, but larger than the sector.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of insufficient academic support, insufficient personal support and students not having equal opportunities to access limited resources.

Risk F

There is a completion gap between students with declared mental health conditions and non-disabled students. UoN's gap is smaller than that of the Russell Group, Core Competitor Group, and the sector.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of insufficient personal and academic support, students not having equal opportunities to access limited resources, and UoN not creating an environment that is conducive to good mental health.

Risk G

There is a completion gap between eligible FSM students and non-eligible FSM students. Analysis shows that UoN's gap fluctuates year on year.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of information and guidance, insufficient personal support and cost pressures.

Risk H

There is a completion gap between IMD Quintile 1 and IMD Quintile 5 students at UoN. Analysis shows that UoN has a lower completion gap when compared to the sector but has a larger gap when compared to the Russell Group and Core Competitor Group.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of insufficient personal support and cost pressures.

Awarding gap

Risk J

There is an awarding gap between Black and White students achieving a Good Degree outcome (1st or 2:1) at UoN. The gap is larger when compared to that of the Russell Group and Core Competitor Group and just lower than the sector. Internal analysis suggests there are intersectional factors at play such as disability, mental health conditions and socio-economic status.

Whilst we currently lack conclusive evidence for the cause of this gap, our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by insufficient academic support, insufficient personal support, not creating an environment that is conducive to good mental health, cost pressure, capacity issues, and a reduced sense of belonging.

Risk K

There is an awarding gap between Asian and White students achieving a Good Degree outcome (1st or 2:1) at UoN. The gap is larger than that of the Russell Group, but smaller than the sector and Core Competitor Group. Our internal data indicates an increase in the degree awarding gap, with some intersectional factors at play such as socio-economic status and age.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risks of insufficient academic support, insufficient personal support, not creating an environment that is conducive to good mental health and cost pressures.

Risk L

There is an awarding gap between mature and young students achieving a Good Degree outcome (1st or 2:1) at UoN. The gap is larger than the Russell Group, Core Competitor Group, and the sector.

Our analysis suggests that the indication of risk aligns with insufficient academic support, cost pressures, capacity issues, and a reduced sense of belonging.

Risk M

There is an awarding gap between eligible FSM students and non-eligible FSM students achieving a Good Degree outcome (1st or 2:1) at UoN. The data shows that our gap is larger than the sector, Russell Group and Core Competitor Group.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk aligns to the EORR risks of insufficient information and guidance, insufficient personal support, insufficient academic support, the ongoing impact of coronavirus, cost pressures, capacity issues, and a reduced sense of belonging.

Risk N

There is an awarding gap between IMD Quintile 1 and Quintile 5 students achieving a Good Degree outcome (1st or 2:1) at UoN. The analysis shows that its gap is higher than the sector, Russell Group and Core Competitor Group.

Our analysis suggests that this indication of risk aligns with EORR risks of insufficient personal support, cost pressures, and a reduced sense of belonging.

Progression

Risk O

There is a progression gap for students with a declared mental health condition compared to students with no declared disability. UoN's gap is larger than that of the Russell Group, Core Competitor Group, and the sector.

This indication of risk may be caused by the EORR risk of insufficient personal support, weaknesses in creating an environment that is conducive to good mental health, and challenges related to progression from higher education.

Risk P

There is a progression gap for students of Mixed Ethnicity when compared to students from other ethnic groups. UoN's gap is larger than that of the sector and Russell Group and the Core Competitor Group. There are small numbers of students in this group at UoN, and the data for this risk fluctuates from year to year.

While there is uncertainty as to the cause of the risk, we suggest that this aligns to the EORR risks of insufficient academic and personal support, as well as challenges related to progression from higher education.

Objectives