White Working Class Males in British Higher Education
Appendices
Appendix A : Pre-Entry Research Methodology
Research aims The research aimed to :
• Explore perceptions of HE , held by young white working class males and their parents ;
• Establish both the barriers and enablers to HE participation ;
• Make recommendations about the strategies and interventions that might reasonably be expected to raise HE participation rates amongst white working class males in the SUN region .
Overall approach A mixed methods approach to the research was adopted . Qualitative data was gathered using learner focus group and semi structured interviews with parents . In order to reach a larger sample of learners focus groups were supplemented by an online learner questionnaire . In addition to primary research , desk research was also undertaken . A brief review of recent literature was completed ( in collaboration with University of Portsmouth Research team ) and an analysis of KS4 / KS5 destination data for local state funded schools and colleges was used to provide context for the study . Three school / colleges based in Southampton were identified by Southampton Solent University to act as partners in the research , providing access to learners and their parents . Incentives for participation were agreed and it was thought that in many instances this had increased levels of engagement amongst learners .
Learner focus groups In order to reach the appropriate target group a range of criteria were identified with the three partner institutions as follows :
School focus groups – White , male , years 9-11 , resident in POLAR 1 quintile , Pupil Premium funded .
6 th Form focus groups – White , male , aged 16-19 , level 3 , resident in POLAR1 quintile , in receipt of college bursary or previous Free School Meal recipient .
College focus groups – White , male , aged up to 19 , resident in POLAR1 quintile , in receipt of college bursary or carers or looked after child and on Level 2 or Level 3 provision with potential to progress to HE ( as defined by tutors ).
Parental background ( in terms of HE heritage and occupational classification ) was not used to assist in the selection of learners as it was unavailable within the partner institutions and would have been too complex to collect in the timescale available . Difficulties in recruiting at the college meant the criteria were not rigorously applied , however all were male , young , vocational learners and given the catchment area of the college were likely to live in low participation neighbourhoods .
In total six focus groups were completed , two at each of the partner institutions , reaching a total of 51 white male learners . 22 of the 51 participants reported family experience of HE , 23 had no prior family experience of HE and a further six did not know . During the focus group participants were asked to rate the likelihood of progressing to HE in the future on a scale of 1- 10 ( with 10 being the highest likelihood ).
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