Introducing the toolkit
The Awarding Gap Toolkit is a set of resources for University of Reading staff interested in understanding how systemic disadvantages affect the academic success of underrepresented groups (outcome gaps) and what can be done to close these gaps.
The toolkit explains the nature and extent of awarding gaps at the University and their known causes. It goes on to provide practical steps available to all staff members to support the University’s collective commitment to eliminate awarding gaps, as outlined in the Access and Participation Plan 2024-5/2027-8.
A one page summary of the toolkit in PDF format is provided.
How to navigate the toolkit
There are two options for navigating the toolkit:
- Use the buttons at the bottom of the page to navigate forward and back through the toolkit.
- Select the page you want from the menu located in the top right of the page.
Updates
The toolkit is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect institutional developments and new findings in the sector. Below, you’ll find a list of the latest changes
June 2025
- Created a new landing page for the ongoing strategic project to investigate ways to support commuter students at Reading.
- Added new videos to enhance the student perspectives on awarding gaps page.
- Added a new page addressing institutional responses, ‘What is Reading doing about awarding gaps?’
- Updated the ‘How to address awarding gaps’ page.
Your feedback
The toolkit is maintained by Student Outcomes Manager Mat Haine and Academic Developer Michael Kilmister in the Centre for Quality Support and Development (CQSD).
We strive to keep this toolkit accurate and up-to-date. Please contact us to share your feedback and ideas to improve its content: cqsd-tandl@reading.ac.uk