Dutton, Daniel (2025) The illusion of educational choice: structural constraints on male progression to higher education in Cumbria. In: University of Cumbria Learning and Teaching Seminar Series, 21 October 2025, Online. (Unpublished) Full text not available from this repository.
(Contact the author)Abstract
This research examines why under-resourced young males in Cumbria continue to have some of the lowest progression rates into Higher Education (HE) nationally. Moving beyond deficit models of “low aspiration,” the study interrogates the structural mechanisms that shape choice and opportunity, from education policy and curriculum design to geography, transport, and multigenerational mobility. By weaving these systemic factors together with lived experience, the project explores how male identity stereotypes, constrained curriculum pathways, and entrenched patterns of social immobility interact to restrict opportunity. The session will share early insights from the pilot study and secondary data analysis, while inviting critical reflections to enhance the research deductions and their implications.
Key themes include:
The impact of locality on aspiration and perceived horizons
The tension between curriculum supply and labour market demand
The persistence of the “Level 2 ceiling,” restricting access to advanced pathways
How family culture and teacher expectations reproduce intergenerational disadvantage.
Through a blend of storytelling and reflective prompts, the presentation considers the balance between structure and agency in educational decision-making. It offers critical insights for those engaged in widening participation, education policy, curriculum reform, and regional social mobility.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture) |
|---|---|
| Departments: | Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership > Business |
| Additional Information: | Daniel Dutton, DBA student and Head of Student Recruitment and Outreach at the University of Cumbria, UK. |
| Depositing User: | Anna Lupton |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Oct 2025 13:10 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Oct 2025 13:10 |
| URI: | https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/9110 |
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