Nathan Sansom, Chief Executive of The Access Project said:
 
“The Access Project (TAP) welcomes the ambitious new targets set by the Office for Students to close the equality gap at our universities. It is deeply unfair that students from wealthier backgrounds are still six times more likely to attend top universities in the UK.
 
 
At TAP we know that this is about knowledge and confidence, but it also requires a specific focus on improving the grades of disadvantaged students. Self belief must go hand in hand with attainment when it comes to breaking down access barriers to our most selective institutions.
The Access Project is achieving record success with a dual approach of personalised tutoring to boost academic achievement and in-school support. Our students are four times as likely as similarly disadvantaged peers to get into top universities. Our programme shows that it can be done and that entrenched unfairness doesn’t have to remain the status quo.”