OFFA access report: UCL comment

English universities and colleges are investing significantly more in outreach activity to raise aspirations and attainment among people from lower-income backgrounds and other groups under-represented in higher education, according to the latest annual monitoring report by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). The report, a joint publication with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), shows that outreach expenditure on activities such as summer schools rose by 15% to £45.7 million (up from £39.6 million in 2009-10). Commenting on UCL's level of expenditure, Katy Redfern, Head of Outreach, said: "At 32. UCL has committed a large proportion of additional fee income to working with and attracting underrepresented groups to study at UCL. We are pleased to see our outreach activities and bursary scheme having a positive impact on applications, but we recognise that there is still work to do in key areas. "In 2010/11, UCL worked with over 20,000 young people, 900 parents, 400 teachers and 140 state schools and colleges. In 2009/10, UCL gained the Buttle UK Quality Mark in recognition of the support provided for looked-after children and we were proud to retain this in September 2010 for a further two years.