Differential attainment gap
This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
White students are statistically more likely to receive a higher-class degrees than ethnic minority students in UK universities. At the Royal College of Pharmacy, we’re committed to addressing the disparities that affect Black pharmacy students and trainees.
Our report, Chasing equality in pharmacy training – closing the awarding and attainment gap for Black trainees in pharmacy, reveals a concerning 12% awarding gap in pharmacy degrees and a 22.6% gap in registration assessment outcomes between Black and White trainees.
Developed with an extensive coalition of stakeholders, the report calls for systemic change through improved data analysis, role modelling, bias mitigation, and support during key transition points in training.
Differential attainment oversight group
We’ve set up a cross-sector Differential Attainment Oversight Group to eliminate these gaps by 2030. Chaired by RPS, it brings together regulators, education providers and key organisations across Great Britain.
Meetings
March 2025
Discover the key outcomes from the group’s first meeting and the actions agreed to tackle structural barriers.
Read the full meeting minutes here.
Members of the group
Task and finish groups
To drive progress on key areas, task and finish groups meet between main sessions. These groups focus on:
- Data
- Inspiration and role models
- Tutor training
- Supporting the transition from pharmacy student to foundation trainee
As shown below, task and finish groups report into the Oversight Delivery Group, which in turn reports to the IPP advisory board.
Get involved
If you’re interested in getting involved in any of these groups, please contact [email protected].
Webinar: Exploring the real life impact of differential attainment in pharmacy
Catch up on our webinar exploring the Chasing Equality report findings and how differential attainment affects pharmacy education.
Hear powerful insights from Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Founder of the African and Caribbean Pre-registration Pharmacist Network (ACPN), trainee pharmacists and BPSA representatives as they share lived experiences and discuss the impact on confidence, mental health and career progression.
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