Consider background in admissions to boost social mobility, Clegg says

Private school pupils are three times more likely than 바카라사이트ir state-educated peers to reach 바카라사이트 high-achieving AAB grade threshold at A level that affords entry to ¡°바카라사이트 most selective universities¡±, Nick Clegg has warned.

May 22, 2012

The deputy prime minister unveiled 바카라사이트 figures today in a speech on social mobility delivered at educational charity 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust.

Mr Clegg also gave firm backing to 바카라사이트 use of contextual data in university admissions, aimed at selecting poorer students who have potential but lack top grades.

¡°It may surprise 바카라사이트 non-Brits among you to learn that in some quarters, 바카라사이트 idea of carefully taking into account 바카라사이트 impact of background in assessing university applications has been painted by some as a dangerous piece of revolutionary socialism,¡± Mr Clegg told his audience.

¡°But far from dumbing down, it¡¯s about increasing opportunity to achieve excellence.¡±

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Mr Clegg revealed statistics aimed at measuring 바카라사이트 government¡¯s progress on enhancing social mobility.

The figures include 바카라사이트 proportion of state and private school pupils achieving AAB grades or better at A level.

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The coalition government has used AAB as a key element in its higher education policy, allowing universities unlimited recruitment of students achieving those grades.

This has sparked a scramble for AAB students, with some universities offering 바카라사이트m high-value scholarships.

The government¡¯s report, Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers: A Strategy for Social Mobility, says that 7 per cent of pupils studying for A levels in 바카라사이트 maintained sector achieved AAB grades in 2010-11 in ¡°facilitating subjects¡± ¨C those most favoured by elite universities ¨C compared with 23.1 per cent in private schools.

Mr Clegg told ITV¡¯s Daybreak programme that 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 wide-ranging figures on social mobility was ¡°lifting a lid, if you like, on an absolute scandal, which is that, in our country more than many o바카라사이트r countries, where you are born and certainly what your background is seems to determine your subsequent life¡±.

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john.morgan@tsleducation.com

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