9: Equal Opportunities, Equal Outcomes and Higher Education: Choice or Circumstance?

The desire for greater equality has been in Labour’s DNA since its inception. However, despite its longevity and many connotations, the ways of achieving it have been hotly contested. A key aspect has been equality of opportunity which has remained relatively uncontroversial especially when compared to the left’s leitmotif of greater distribution of wealth and power. Put simply, it is based on the idea that individuals should have a fair and equal chance to succeed and not suffer disadvantage or discrimination. Equality of outcome, on the other hand, is about having greater fairness and parity in terms of where people end up as much as where they begin (Phillips, 2004). And it is in higher education (HE) where this fairness principle should predominate.