Contextual offer

I’m hoping to study law at Durham or Newcastle next year. I was told by tutors that where we live qualifies for contextual offers, it’s constantly seen as one of the move deprived areas in England. I’ve sent my UCAS application off and received a place offer from Newcastle (Durham will take longer because of my LNAT scores needing to be looked at), except Newcastle didn’t give me a contextual offer - they’ve asked for AAA… which is their normal offer for law. They then sent me an automated email asking “could you be eligible for a contextual offer?”, so I responded an explained that I do think I’m eligible for one as I grow up in a deprived area, I’m a carer, none of my family have ever been to university, and I have received free school meals. Safe to say that all of that has effected my studies, I find it hard often to get into my sixth form most days because I’m either caring for my grandmother in week days, or I have to help my dad with work. I’m now worried that Durham aren’t going to see me as eligible for a contextual offer either, which would lead to them asking for an A*AA - at the moment I’ve just about been able to get that in my mocks this year, but I’m so scared that there’s no way I’m going to get this for my actual A levels. I have just looked on the postcode checker too, and it’s told me my postcode is:
POLAR4 - Quintile 5
TUNDRA MSOA - Quintile 3
TUNDRA LSOA - Quintile 3
Adult HE 2011 - Quintile 4
Isn’t this classed as a good area? How the hell is it not 1 or 2?? It’s literally classed as one of the most deprived areas in the country. No one here progresses to university.
I received an offer from Royal Holloway too and by the looks of things they have given me a contextual offer (BBB), or I think it’s a contextual offer as it’s lower than what they ask for on their website.
This is all so confusing to me, it all seems so wrongly done if they do base it off that postcode thing, can someone provide any insight maybe? Thanks

Different universities have different ways of assessing contextual offers. I've so far gotten a contextual from Nottingham, but not from Birmingham or Manchester. Your postcode for progression to higher education doesn't look contextual - have you checked your IMD? You should get one for having free school meals, did you declare this in your UCAS form? Did you declare that you are a young carer or did your teachers put it in their reference? Sometimes just because an area is known as deprived doesn't mean it is reflected in the quintiles

I have been told it is contextual and tbh you’d expect it to be. That makes sense that different uni’s have different different ways, slightly scary though lol. Yes I put on my UCAS application that I get free school medals and have caring responsibilities, I also mentioned the caring responsibilities in my personal statement.

I’m hoping to study law at Durham or Newcastle next year. I was told by tutors that where we live qualifies for contextual offers, it’s constantly seen as one of the move deprived areas in England. I’ve sent my UCAS application off and received a place offer from Newcastle (Durham will take longer because of my LNAT scores needing to be looked at), except Newcastle didn’t give me a contextual offer - they’ve asked for AAA… which is their normal offer for law. They then sent me an automated email asking “could you be eligible for a contextual offer?”, so I responded an explained that I do think I’m eligible for one as I grow up in a deprived area, I’m a carer, none of my family have ever been to university, and I have received free school meals. Safe to say that all of that has effected my studies, I find it hard often to get into my sixth form most days because I’m either caring for my grandmother in week days, or I have to help my dad with work. I’m now worried that Durham aren’t going to see me as eligible for a contextual offer either, which would lead to them asking for an A*AA - at the moment I’ve just about been able to get that in my mocks this year, but I’m so scared that there’s no way I’m going to get this for my actual A levels. I have just looked on the postcode checker too, and it’s told me my postcode is:
POLAR4 - Quintile 5
TUNDRA MSOA - Quintile 3
TUNDRA LSOA - Quintile 3
Adult HE 2011 - Quintile 4
Isn’t this classed as a good area? How the hell is it not 1 or 2?? It’s literally classed as one of the most deprived areas in the country. No one here progresses to university.
I received an offer from Royal Holloway too and by the looks of things they have given me a contextual offer (BBB), or I think it’s a contextual offer as it’s lower than what they ask for on their website.
This is all so confusing to me, it all seems so wrongly done if they do base it off that postcode thing, can someone provide any insight maybe? Thanks

I’ve applied to Durham for Law too but I’m not contextual (haven’t heard back as yet), but I hear they’re very good with contextual offers, asking for lower A Level grades, you should be fine, good luck.

It's a bit crazy that you wouldn't get a contextual when having free school meals (since Newcastle specifically say you should get one), but I have seen it where unis don't give them out even to those who deserve them - good luck for Durham! I have you get in and get the contextual offer!

Thanks so much for this! It would be a dream to go there. The campus seems amazing, the reputation is good, it’s close to home. Good luck too!