The University of Northampton (UON) has been ranked ninth out of higher education institutions outside London for supporting social mobility through its student intake.
The Social Mobility Commission report ‘Who gets in? University benchmarks for better social mobility’, published last week, also ranks the University as twenty first overall in England for social mobility and eighth by its location-adjusted measure.
The location-adjusted measure accounts for students who live closer to a university, recognising that learners from disadvantaged backgrounds often choose to study locally.
Becky Bradshaw, Interim Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton, welcomed the findings and said: “We are extremely proud to be recognised by the Social Mobility Commission as a leading university for supporting social mobility.
“These rankings demonstrate the impact of how we ensure that talented students from all backgrounds can access higher education and realise their ambitions.
“The students that universities like ours offer opportunities to will not only thrive themselves but go on to power our national industries. The ripple effect of this creates enormous change not only for business, but for individuals, families and communities.”
The findings highlight the University’s commitment to attracting and then supporting these students, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading widening participation institutions.
The results also reflect the University’s longstanding commitment to widening (participation) access and social impact, central to its Access and Participation Plan. The Plan outlines how the University enables/prepares students to transition to higher education, supports success during their studies and helps graduates progress into positive employment and further study outcomes.
The Social Mobility Commission’s data is a response to the government’s Inclusive Britain report, which recommended they provide better information to help disadvantaged students make choices about higher education. See the ‘Who gets in? University benchmarks for better social mobility’ data here.