Planning by postcode

In response to the article "Entry by postcode could fall foul of law" (THES, March 26), the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service would like to draw attention to the following points.

Neither of the most widely used commercial postcode analysis systems aims to reproduce, at the individual level, a proxy for social class.

In education, postcode data is useful in a general manner for several purposes. It is inclusive, since it includes in an aggregate manner people not able to be classified by occupation. It is enabling, since action may be taken to redress unequal representation by quantifying a problem in terms of groups of people with similar lifestyles rather than by individual circumstance.

It is, however, a blunt instrument; its main advantage is as a general tool that can aid planners targeting unrepresented groups of people.

UCAS is developing analysis and forecasting services to help institutions widen participation. Our aim is to supply data that can help them plan provision, seek funds to support strategies or assess outreach programmes.

Anthony McClaran Deputy chief executive, UCAS