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The 50 per cent target for participation in higher education is ambitious (Analysis, THES , January 3). If achieved, the government will see it as successful only if a large proportion of those additional students come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

But isn't that exactly the role of further education colleges? A simple analysis of the student cohort in higher and further education partnerships, such as the Staffordshire 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Regional Federation, could easily demonstrate what can be done.

Richard Benefer
Stoke-on-Trent College