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Mr Ben Park / Our ref / 13/0253
Your ref
Email:
07 March 2013

Dear Mr Park

Thank you for your email of 20 February 2013 where you requested the following information: -

“I would like to request a copy of the most recent list of the most selective HE institutions, which I understand to be a category used by BIS for the purposes of widening participation data”.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act'), you have the right to:

·  know whether we hold the information you require

·  be provided with that information (subject to any exemptions under the Act which may apply).

Most Selective HEI Group

Table 3 of the Widening Participation in Higher Education statistical publication gives information on progression to the most selective Higher Education. This is defined as the top third of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) when grouped by mean UCAS tariff score from the top three A level grades of entrants. This is a way of grouping HEIs for statistical purposes using available information. It does not cover all students and all qualifications and is not intended as a comprehensive measure of qualifications on entry to Higher Education. Users of this grouping should be aware that the Higher Education sector has a diverse mix of institutions and courses, so any grouping of HEIs has limitations as an indicator of quality.

The HEIs included in this group change every year; although 94% of HEIs remained in the top third for 4 consecutive years. The measure is restricted to the top 3 A level attainment; pupils who study other qualifications at Key Stage 5 will be excluded from the measure.

Further information is available in tables 3a and 3b and Annex B of the BIS Widening Participation in Higher Education publication

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/widening-participation-in-higher-education-august-2012

Most selective institutions by mean UCAS tariff score of A level entrants

Entry by age 19 in 2009/10

Aston University

Cardiff University

City University

Courtauld Institute of Art

Edinburgh College of Art

Glasgow School of Art

Goldsmiths College

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Heythrop College

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

Kings College London

London School of Economics and Political Science

Loughborough University

Queen Mary and Westfield College

Queens University of Belfast

Royal Academy of Music

Royal College of Music

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College

Royal Northern College of Music

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Royal Veterinary College

School of Oriental and African Studies

School of Pharmacy

St Georges Hospital Medical School

University College London

University of Bath

University of Birmingham

University of Bristol

University of Cambridge

University of Dundee

University of Durham

University of East Anglia

University of Edinburgh

University of Exeter

University of Glasgow

University of Lancaster

University of Leeds

University of Leicester

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

University of Nottingham

University of Oxford

University of Reading

University of Sheffield

University of Southampton

University of St Andrews

University of Strathclyde

University of Surrey

University of Sussex

University of Warwick

University of York

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to Security & Information Rights Unit ().

Security & Information Rights Unit

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

1 Victoria Street

London, SW1H 0ET

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

BIS / Higher Education Student Funding

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