University of East London Homepage

We do need more education! - Barking & Dagenham students speak out

Friday 10 July 2009

L-r: John Morris, Principal of Havering College; Cathy Walsh, Principal of Barking College; Principal researcher Karina Berzins, Professor John Storan, Director of the Continuum Centre for Widening Participation and Policy Studies at UEL

60% of young learners in Barking and Dagenham aspire to go on to University, but nearly half of these students think it will cost too much money.

These are among the headline findings of a new report, ‘Communities and Widening Participation in Education in Barking & Dagenham’, launched this week by Continuum, The Centre for Widening Participation and Policy Studies at the University of East London (UEL).

The draft report and accompanying film of young people’s views, was presented at an event in partnership with Barking College and Havering College at the Barking Learning Centre on Monday 6 July.

Principal researcher Karina Berzins and her team conducted in-depth interviews and consulted with 230 young people from schools, colleges and youth clubs in the borough. She found that many talented students are put off Higher Education by difficult school experiences, lack of advice and guidance and financial costs.

Speaking at the launch, Cathy Walsh, Principal of Barking College said: “It is vital that young people make informed choices about their education. This research gives some clues to the barriers facing young people and points to some potential solutions. We are proud to be working with the borough and the University of East London to develop pathways for progression based on real evidence from young people.”

John Morris, Director of HE Development at Havering College, said: “When I grew up in this borough, most men worked at Fords. Today, we have some of the lowest rates of educational achievement in the country. We need to do the right thing by our young people, and to do it right.”

Professor John Storan, Director of the Continuum Centre for Widening Participation and Policy Studies at UEL and a leading authority on further and higher education, said: “Last year over 600 Barking & Dagenham school and college leavers went on to Higher Education. This is an increase from just 261 in 2001, but still a long way behind other areas.”

Continuum was commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to undertake research why so few Barking & Dagenham youngsters go on to university. The study forms part of a national project to understand the social, economic and cultural factors which lie behind low participation rates in cities across England.

UEL currently has 450 Barking & Dagenham residents enrolled as students, and is a partner in the Barking Learning Centre.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

Information for screenreader users:

For a general description of these pages and an explanation of how they should work with screenreading equipment please follow this link: Link to general description

For further information on this web site’s accessibility features please follow this link: Link to accessibility information