White Working Class Males in British Higher Education
• Learners need to be fully informed about the implications of the educational choices they make , including choices at aged 14 . Outreach providers can support schools to meet their statutory responsibilities for providing careers education , information , advice and guidance by providing information about HE entry requirements .
• At the same time local HE providers need to ensure that alternative routes to HE are in place and that choosing not to pursue an A level route need not close the door on higher levels of learning . Embedding information and providing opportunities to explore the full range of HE provision as part of outreach programmes may be of particular value , including for example Higher and Degree apprenticeships and HE in FE provision .
Post-entry : Findings from the post-entry research project show that white , working class male students are concerned about transitioning into university . This finding is echoed in higher education literature ( Gale and Parker , 2014 ; Lehmann , 2014 ; Quinn , 2010 ). A number of the research participants revealed that they did not feel like they had clear guidance on what to expect once they began their first year . Focus group participants identified the concerns they had about making the transition to university as one of the risks they considered when deciding whether or not to pursue higher education . Supporting students as they transition into higher education has an impact on student engagement , participation , and success . Feeling supported as they prepare for that transition before they begin their studies may impact recruitment of white , working class male students and , as such , it is suggested that outreach , recruitment and widening participation teams should :
• Develop strategies for addressing concerns underrepresented students , like white , working class men , have about transitioning into university . The focus group participants in the post-entry research project talked about the process of transitioning into university being easier than they had imagined before they applied . Find a way to relay that message to prospective students , who might see the transition as one of the risks higher education unappealing as an option .
• Engage current students to help develop outreach and marketing materials to address the topic of transitioning into higher education , whether that includes print content , social media posts , videos , or interactive elements to show prospective students a glimpse of what their actual transition experience might be like .
• Identify and engage with working-class identified academics at the university to develop outreach and marketing materials . Consider developing a mentoring scheme between academics from working-class backgrounds and prospective working-class students .
• Ensure that information , resources , and materials shared with prospective students and with accepted students does not alienate underrepresented students . Review existing materials to check for assumptions about university life that might seem like common knowledge for some , but may be unknown , unclear , and confusing for first generation and / or working class students .
7.6 Outreach and age
Pre-entry : Research suggests that white males from disadvantaged backgrounds are less sure about HE at pre-16 level but once they reach post-16 they show similar levels of interest in HE to their more advantaged peers . At the same time the research suggests they are making post- 16 choices in a different way to both their female and their more advantaged peers and this is having an impact on eventual progression to HE .
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• Learners need access to early outreach to ensure that HE is considered as a potential opportunity , and that the window of opportunity is open as learners progress through and beyond statutory education . Choices made at 14 have the potential to impact on HE progression and therefore work prior to KS3 is crucial .
• Once in a post-16 setting support that builds confidence levels , maximises attainment and converts interest into an informed application is important .