The SRA commissioned the University of Exeter’s Schools of Law and Business to look at what causes differences in outcomes for ethnic groups in professional assessments.
The annual education and training monitoring reports show a widely-acknowledged and persistent difference in legal qualification outcomes by ethnicity in the UK, often known as an ‘attainment gap’ or an ‘awarding gap’. This pattern is also seen in school, further and higher education, as well as in other professional assessments and other countries.
The research, which will take until the end of 2023 to complete, should help to increase understanding about the factors that are driving this picture and to identify steps that could be taken to make a difference.
The first phase of independent research, a systematic literature review, has now been published and shows some of the potential multiple and complex causes of differential outcomes by ethnicity in professional assessments..
The review looked at over 250 UK and international academic, government and professional reports and articles. Researchers also consulted with 25 experts, including other academics, regulators and members of the profession.
The review shows that reasons for differential outcomes in professional assessments are wide and varied, with the key factors beyond the direct control of candidates themselves. These included that exam performance can be influenced by:
- The availability of support in education and work for different minority groups
- Perceived barriers and/or opportunities to entry and progression in a given profession, based on characteristics such as social background and ethnicity
- Positive or negative experiences at school, college or university
- Life circumstances, such as socio-economic status
It also found that existing research was limited in some areas. For instance, there was very little existing research into the variations in performance in legal professional assessments and the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in England and Wales.
The research is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and the final report will be published in 2024.
