Q. Where can I find statistics on widening participation in higher education?
You can find annual statistics on widening participation in HE from the Department of Education GOV UK website.
Widening participation in Higher Education: 2025
Statistics providing information on measures of widening participation in higher education.
These include estimates of state-funded pupils’ progression to higher education (HE) by age 19 according to their personal characteristics at age 15, including:
- eligibility for free school meals (FSM)
- disadvantage
- gender
- ethnicity
- special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) status
- first language
- children in need
- looked after children
- care leavers
The publication also includes the following:
- geographic breakdowns to enable comparisons of HE progression rates between local authorities and regions
- estimated percentages of A-level and equivalent students at age 17, by school or college type, who progressed to HE by age 19
- progression by POLAR quintile
- breakdowns for high tariff HE providers
Widening Participation in Higher Education: 2025
Published 31 July 2025