Ethnic variation in higher education participation amongst males in the UK: the mediating effect of attitudes and prior attainment

This article reports on the findings from a longitudinal analysis of 2976 boys from the Next Steps (formerly LSYPE) dataset. It unites the existing literature on ethnic gaps in attainment and higher education participation to offer deeper, more holistic insight into the relationship between ethnicity and educational outcomes. The article offers a robust understanding of the extent to which ethnic variations in higher education participation are mediated by attitudes and attainment. Structural equation mediation models were used to investigate the link between ethnicity and outcome across a seven-year period. The analyses show specific mediated-effects of attitude to school and attainment on ethnic variations in higher education participation for boys from certain BME groups relative to their White British counterparts. The findings have implications for policy and practice, both in compulsory schooling and in higher education.