Our approach to equality of opportunity
Evaluating our approach
We are currently evaluating the impact of our access and participation plan (APP) approach as a whole, to understand its impact on equality of opportunity across the higher education sector.
The evaluation will run from 2025 to 2030, and look at our approach from its initiation in 2018 to the current iteration (following reforms in 2023).
This builds on the evaluation of our 2023 reforms to regulating equality of opportunity, which concluded in 2025.
Theory of change
This theory of change diagram below sets out the APP approach from its initiation in 2018 to the 2023 reforms. Open this diagram as a PDF.
This diagram shows the theory of change for the OfS’s APP approach from its introduction in 2018 to the 2023 reforms. From left to right, it presents five sequential groups of small boxes representing: OfS activities, short‑term direct outcomes, medium‑term direct outcomes, long‑term indirect outcomes, and overall impact. Vertically, these boxes are organised into four mechanisms: senior buy‑in mechanism, long‑term planning mechanism, root causes mechanism, and evaluation and evidence mechanism. Along the bottom of the diagram, a bar indicates that all stages can be influenced by external factors, including social, institutional, and other OfS regulatory activities.
The diagram outlines four key mechanisms through which we expect our activities to lead to short, medium, and long term outcomes, with the ultimate aim of improving equality of opportunity for students:
- Senior-management buy-in.
- Long-term planning.
- Root causes.
- Evaluation and evidence.
How we will evaluate impact
This evaluation involves two rounds of work. Each round includes:
- quantitative analysis of access and participation data to identify trends
- qualitative deep dives to explore the long-term impact of our APP approach across the sector.
We are currently undertaking round one of the impact evaluation, which focuses on the impact of plans delivered prior to the 2023 reforms. The round one report is expected to be published in 2027.
Round two will take place in 2029 and 2030, and it will focus on the impact of plans delivered after the 2023 reforms.
At the end of round two, findings from both rounds will be synthesised. The final report is expected to be published in 2030.
Last updated 04 February 2026 + show all updates
04 February 2026 - Updated page with details of the latest evaluation project, which examines our overall approach to access and participation plans from 2018 to present.
15 October 2025 - We have added further information about the second phase of evaluation.
07 December 2023 - Updated to reflect new evaluation process
29 March 2023 - Page refreshed in line with our new approach to equality of opportunity
11 March 2021 - Page updated to reflect the second part of the evaluation.
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