While reading the UCAS report for my previous piece on applications from those living in poorer areas, I found a paragraph beginning with the headline above. It was on page 4 so I suppose it‘s unfair to have expected the BBC or STV staff to have found it. Had they seen it, they must surely have published it. Here it is:
‘In 2018, the application rate in Scotland increased across all groups aged 20 years or
older, with record high application rates across the majority of older age groups. This continues the general upward trend seen since 2006. In England, application rates from
the majority of older applicants decreased, with the exception of 21 year-olds. Application rates in Wales showed similar declines, with increases seen only in 21, 23, and 40 to
60 year-olds. Application rates in Northern Ireland also declined for older age groups, with the exception of 21, 25 to 29 and 40 to 60 year-olds.’
https://www.ucas.com/file/147891/download?token=sjxwG1wA
It’s pretty good news, I’d say. As ‘lifelong learner’ myself, or a slow-learner as some of my relatives would have it, I like the idea that even among the 40 to 60 year-olds we see an increase in applications. This is a mark of a better more inclusive society along with many of the other measures reported here in previous days and weeks.
Talking-up Scotland 
CommonSpace have an article on this too. They have a lot more detail than the BBC Scotland report I heard earlier today but unfortunately they have gone with the same headline – even though their article throws doubt on it.
Link here:https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/12288/analysis-new-data-shows-decline-poorest-students-applying-university
LikeLike
Thanks Marlene. I’m a bit unsure of Common Space. They, to my mind, lack the discipline we need if we’re to get independence. Too much navel-gazing, too much attacking the SNP and too little attacking the opposition.
LikeLike
Big Jon beat me to this news – but worth putting on another post in case people miss it: beeb Wales is carrying a mighty important story re. the UK Statistics Authority confirming Carwyn Jones’ complaint re. Theresa May’s misuse of stats in her comparison of NHS England and NHS Wales A+E waiting times: see link and edits below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-42944761
Theresa May’s Wales-England A&E comparison ‘not valid’
The UK Statistics Authority has backed First Minister Carwyn Jones’s criticism of Prime Minister Theresa May’s use of accident and emergency data.
Mr Jones said a comparison of those waiting 12 hours or more at A&E in Wales and England was unfair as the figures are measured in different ways.
Authority chairman Sir David Norgrove said the comparison was “not valid”.
A spokesman for Mrs May accepted the assessment but insisted A&E performance in England was better than Wales.
Sir David said: “The figure used for England refers to the accident and emergency wait time from the decision to admit to admission into another part of the health service.
“The figure used for Wales represents the entire time patients wait from arriving to leaving accident and emergency services, including the time from decision to admit to actual admission.”
In reply, Sir David said: “You are right to say that the comparison is not valid.
“Waiting time comparisons between UK countries are difficult, for a variety of reasons, including differences in data collection and in health service structure, the use of walk-in centres for example.”
He did, however, urge “faster progress” in making data accessible and comparable.
A spokesman for the prime minister said: “We would accept the assessment of the UK Stats Authority – but the point she was making, that A&E performed better in England than in Wales, still stands”.
Well done Sir David Norgrove and The UK Stats Authority – their honest appraisal of Theresa’s claim has demonstrated that there are still some professional elements operating within the state superstructure who won’t willingly allow the citizenry to be hoodwinked all the time. This strikes me as an important moment in ‘trust’ trying to be fostered by the better parts of the Civil Service – they can see the way things are going and don’t like it one little bit either.
LikeLike
That’s really interesting, thanks. I looked at the advice given to NHS England and Scotland on counting for the 4hr target and they seemed to be the same.
LikeLike