Studies that examine entry into dual education and training show that the prospects for female adolescents who are specifically aiming to enter into dual education and training are worse than those of their male counterparts.
Outreach programmes can help encourage younger people from underprivileged backgrounds into higher education: There is much more that Russell Group universities could do to encourage youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds to enter into higher education, especially those recruiting less-diverse and more traditional students.
The Government has called on universities, particularly the most selective, to do more to help "white boys from the poorest homes" enter into higher education, as the Conservatives look to widen access for disadvantaged young people.
Jeff Cuthbert, deputy minister for skills, said the research had "raised important issues" and said the Welsh government would "look to see exactly how well the Baccalaureate at advanced level prepares those who wish to enter into higher education".
From many events each year, such as the Foundation Scholarship Reception and GED Graduation, College of DuPage hears firsthand the moving stories about what the opportunity to enter into higher education means to first generation students and their families.
At the same time, some females, mainly from families with a higher socio-economic status, are given the opportunity to enter into higher education and they perform well.
Around 97% of students leaving lower secondary education enter into upper secondary education; however there is a notable drop-out rate.
Their opportunities for entering into vocational education and training are often not very favourable, and young people with a maximum of a lower secondary school-leaving certificate face a particularly high level of risk in this respect.
An increasing number of students from non-traditional backgrounds are entering into higher education, not as direct school leavers but entering or returning to tertiary study later in life.
A white paper is to be produced later this year before the legislation is published setting out the options, including giving governors the power to enter into their own contracts on education, training and healthcare and set up their own boards with external expertise.
