POLAR3: A robust measure of young participation in HE

A HEFCE report which analyses the latest Participation of Local Areas classification (known as POLAR3) concludes that neighbourhood wards are an accurate geography by which to measure young participation rates in higher education (HE).
The report also shows that young people entering higher education (HE) from more disadvantaged areas are more likely to study part-time, and to attend an institution closer to home, than entrants from more advantaged areas [Notes 1-3].
It assesses the extent to which wards might conceal pockets of young people in smaller (‘sub-ward’) areas with substantially different rates of young participation. This is assessed nationally, as well as for different regions of the UK, and types of area (urban or rural). More...