Communities and Widening Participation in Higher Education in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

This report documents findings from research undertaken between January 2009 and June 2009 at Havering College of Further and Higher. The research is part of a suite undertaken by University of East London and Barking College. The research was commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council of England and led on from the "Four Cities" research undertaken in 2006. The research focuses on the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and considers the issue of low participator rates in higher Education in this community. The research aims to: 1) Provide a clear understanding of the social, cultural and economics factors behind low participation rates in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham. 2) Help HE providers as well as schools, develop different and more effective ways at engaging with their local communities. 3) Provide longer term planning and strategic development of widening participation in selected communities and provide lessons and models for transfer.