THE UNIVERSITY of Bolton is aiming to stop more of its students from leaving as figures show the number of dropouts has been rising.

Statistics detailing student retention across the country reveal a 4.8 per cent rise in the number of pupils leaving Bolton before their course has ended, between the 2012/13 and 2016/17 academic years.

But Dr Kondal Reddy Kandadi, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the university, says staff have worked hard over recent years to turn the situation around.

He also pointed out that the students come from some of the most financially and socially challenged areas of the UK, with high numbers of disabled pupils.

“The data that has been released relates to the period from 2012-2017 and is now two years old, The University of Bolton has deployed a robust strategy to improve student retention and our hard work has led to steady improvement in the past two years,” Dr Kandadi said.

“These economic, physical and cultural characteristics can lead to very specific constraints on progression performance. However, at the University of Bolton we are proud of our widening participation philosophy and of all our students.

“Over the last five years, we have deployed a strategic and holistic approach for the sustainable improvement of student retention.”

Pupil retention has improved in the last two years - with dropout rates going from 17.1 per cent down to 15.7 per cent - and Bolton now boasts the best student satisfaction in Greater Manchester. But, Dr Kandadi says staff will aim to continue improving.

He added: “This will involve strategic investments in additional staff, student learning infrastructure, individualised support provision, industry collaborations and employability skills development.”