• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

GLA Publishes Report into Issues Affecting Disabled Students

May 22, 2007 - Staff

Yesterday saw the publication of a new report from the Greater London Authority into issues affecting disabled students in the capital.

Entitled ‘Disabled Students in London’ the report is a review of information, research and policy relating to disabled students in further and higher education, including students with learning difficulties and is relevant to disability organisations, student unions, educational institutions and policy makers and covers student characteristics, their patterns of study and financial support.

Themes include educational participation, achievement and student destinations. The report highlights recent successes and failures of the educational system as they affect disabled people and shows that across the board financial and other support are key factors in deciding whether a disabled person will go into further or higher education.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: ‘There are over 63,000 disabled people studying in London’s further and higher education institutions. However, this report shows that disabled people are under-represented in post-16 education and that they still face disadvantage in the education system.

‘I’m committed to London being a beacon for inclusion and accessibility. We must all continue to recognise the educational disadvantage faced by disabled people , work to remove barriers to greater participation, and deliver effective equality of opportunity for all London’s students.’

A Disability Rights Commission survey of disabled young people aged 16-24 found that, of those who had not gone on to further or higher education, nearly one third had been discouraged because of their impairment.

For example, they were worried about support, transport or accommodation.
In further and adult education, there is major under-representation of disabled people among older students. For example, 14 per cent of further education students over 60 are recorded as having a disability or learning difficulty; in the 60-64 age group alone, the Census figure for limiting long-term illness/disability in London’s population is 34 per cent.

The report also indicates that disabled further education students with good academic potential are under-achieving.

Disabled students in higher education say that the most significant barriers are staff attitudes and access to buildings and aids. Higher education institutions have very varied approaches as to whether they take on disabled students.

The publication of ‘Disabled Students in London’ coincides with major opportunities to improve the education and skills of disabled people through the London Skills and Employment Board, chaired by the Mayor, and through London’s Adult Skills, Training and Employment Strategy.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Record number of candidates stand in London’s Mayoral election

TfL and Siemens unveil new Piccadilly line Tube train designs

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.