University of Bedfordshire sees highest increase in dropout rate in England

The number of students dropping out of education has increased more at the University of Bedfordshire than anywhere else, new research has found.

In the five year period between from 2011/12 to 2016/17 (the last year for which data was available), the non-continuation rate rose from 8.3% to 15.2%.

The increase of 6.9 percentage points is more than anywhere else in England over that time period, according to analysis by the Press Association.

A spokeswoman for the Luton-based institution said: "As a widening participation university our students can face challenging barriers to success.

"Many are mature students balancing the responsibilities of family and work with studying for a degree. Others are the first in their family to go to university, unable to turn to the bank of 'mum and dad', juggling commuting and part-time work with their studies."

She added that while the institution will "always strive" to improve non-continuation rates, and that there is always more to do, it will not stop the university from "offering the life-changing experience of going to university to students who have the motivation and ability to succeed but for whatever reason have not had the opportunities to do so previously".