The aim of this project (funded by the Learning and Skills Council) was to address gaps in data regarding the known ethnicity of Further Education students at City College Norwich (CCN). In so doing, the intention is to improve the disclosure rate of ethnicity amongst future intakes of students to allow the college to monitor more effectively the performance of different learners and provide support where necessary.
Qualitative research methods included:
• A Literature review.
• Open discussion with various members of staff at CCN.
• Communication with two other regional colleges.
• Questionnaires, completed by both staff and students at CCN.
• Informal dialogue with students and members of staff at CCN.
• Semi-structured Interviews / Focus Groups with students at CCN.
The non-disclosure of ethnicity by FE students at CCN results from various factors that can be summarised as:
• A small percentage of students (3%) who do not agree with ethnic monitoring and will not provide their ethnic group, irrespective of explanations for the benefits of this process.
• A lack of understanding, particularly amongst certain groups of students, of their own ethnicity or the purposes of ethnic monitoring.
• Misunderstanding amongst some staff, including those involved with enrolment, as to the purposes of ethnic monitoring and the way in which students whose ethnicity is ‘Not Known’ or ‘Not Provided’ is recorded in the same category.
• The influence of staff beliefs and concerns with the ethnic group question on ethnicity data gathering practices during enrolment.
• The unclear format and layout of the application and enrolment forms, specifically relating to the question on ethnic origin.
• The lack of explanation or comprehendible explanation on the application and enrolment forms as to why ethnicity data is gathered and how it is used.
There are two key areas for improvement at CCN which need to be achieved together in order to lower the non-disclosure rate for ethnicity amongst future intakes of FE students at the college. These relate to staff training and the redesign of the application and enrolment forms, including the ethnic group question.

Open full report