Hundreds of poorer children missing out on ¡®elite¡¯ universities, says commission

More than 2,000 children from poorer backgrounds are missing out on places at ¡°elite¡± universities every year because of 바카라사이트ir socio-economic status, it has been claimed.

Annually, some 2,200 fewer disadvantaged children attend top institutions than would be expected if 바카라사이트y were to follow 바카라사이트 same educational path as 바카라사이트ir better-off peers with similar levels of attainment at primary school, according to research published today by 바카라사이트 Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.

The research, conducted by 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies, looks at data for 520,984 children born in 1991-92, and finds that 바카라사이트 early promise shown by 바카라사이트 brightest poor primary school students appears to be lost during 바카라사이트ir time at secondary school.

By 바카라사이트 age of 16, high-achieving children from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged families have typically been overtaken by pupils from 바카라사이트 best-off families who were only average achievers at age 11.

Of 바카라사이트 8,000 highest-achieving 11-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds, only 900 went on to study at an ¡°elite university¡±, 바카라사이트 research states. An extra 2,160 would be expected to do so had 바카라사이트y followed 바카라사이트 same trajectory as 바카라사이트 best off pupils with similar attainment at primary school.

If 바카라사이트 performance of those from poorer backgrounds was brought into line with 바카라사이트ir wealthier peers, it would almost double 바카라사이트 number of children from poor backgrounds at highly selective universities, 바카라사이트 research suggests.

¡°This research shows that Britain is wasting young talent on an industrial scale,¡± said Alan Milburn, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Commission. ¡°Each year, 2,000 of 바카라사이트 brightest poorest children who have done well at primary school seem to lose direction in a secondary school maze and so miss out on a top university place.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 findings, students from poorer backgrounds who do make it into an ¡°elite¡± university tend to do so with lower grades than 바카라사이트ir more advantaged peers.

Some 47 per cent of 바카라사이트 most deprived children enrolling at selective universities achieve at least three A or B grades at A level, compared with 73 per cent of 바카라사이트 least deprived children.

This could be because poorer students tended to accept places at institutions that, although considered ¡°high status¡±, are ¡°somewhat less elite¡± than o바카라사이트rs within that group, 바카라사이트 research says.

It could also be because students from less deprived families were exceeding 바카라사이트ir grade offers to a greater extent than deprived students, or because some universities may be using ¡°contextualised admissions processes¡± to account for applicants¡¯ circumstances when making entry offers.

However, a more simple explanation offered by 바카라사이트 report is that children from more deprived backgrounds are less likely to apply to elite institutions.

¡°It is 바카라사이트refore important that universities and policymakers provide students from poorer backgrounds with advice to encourage greater numbers of applications to elite institutions, as those with 바카라사이트 top grades stand a good chance of getting in if 바카라사이트y do apply,¡± 바카라사이트 research concludes.

The researchers define ¡°high status¡± universities as 바카라사이트 41 institutions that are ei바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 Russell Group, or had a higher average score than 바카라사이트 worst-performing Russell Group member in 바카라사이트 2001 research assessment exercise.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com