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Disabled Students

Volume 450: debated on Tuesday 10 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many disabled students have dropped out of higher education before completion of their course in the last five years; (90228)

(2) what information is collected on the number of disabled students dropping out of university.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects information on disabled students each year via the HESA Student record. Disability is determined in two ways: by a self-assessment on the part of the student, and by whether a student is in receipt of a Disabled Student Allowance.

HESA's Performance Indicators in Higher Education include the proportion of students in receipt of a Disabled Student Allowance, and the proportion of full-time first degree entrants who do not continue in higher education after first year. Both of these are shown in the tables. However, there is no publicly-available information on non-completion rates specifically for disabled students. Using the data on which the PIs are based, the proportion of full-time first degree disabled students not continuing in HE after first year has been calculated for 2002-03 and 2003-04. These figures are also included in the tables.

Percentage of full-time first degree students at UK institutions in receipt of disabled student allowance

Percentage

2000-01

1.5

2001-02

2.1

2002-03

2.6

2003-04

3.1

2004-05

3.6

Source: Table T7, Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA

Percentage of full-time first degree entrants to UK institutions not continuing in HE after their first year

Percentage

1999-2000

9.7

2000-01

8.7

2001-02

9.0

2002-03

9.5

2003-04

9.5

Source:

Table T3, Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA

Percentage of full-time first degree students to UK institutions who are in receipt of Disabled Student Allowance, not continuing in HE after their first year

Percentage

2002-03

7.3

2003-04

7.5

Source:

HEFCE