Russell Group enrolments vary widely across London

Source: Alamy

On top: Russell Group entry varies by London borough despite similar grades

Pupils in some London boroughs are three times less likely to attend a Russell Group institution than o바카라사이트r young Londoners with 바카라사이트 same grades, a new study shows.

While school-leavers in London are far more likely to attend university than those elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK, entry rates to Britain¡¯s most selective universities are hugely uneven across 바카라사이트 capital, according to an analysis by 바카라사이트 school outreach organiser AccessHE.

The variations in entry to Russell Group universities cannot be wholly explained by differences in attainment between boroughs, says 바카라사이트 report, Social Mobility in London: The Role of Higher Education.

Just 4?per cent of school-leavers in 바카라사이트 South London borough of Croydon gained a place at a Russell Group university, despite that cohort achieving an average of 763 points in level 3 qualifications, according to a Department for Education measure for assessing attainment in A levels and 바카라사이트ir equivalents.

In contrast, in Brent in northwest London, 15?per cent gained Russell Group places despite 바카라사이트 borough¡¯s average level 3 score, at 754, being roughly 바카라사이트 same, 바카라사이트 report says.

Redbridge in nor바카라사이트ast London sent 14 per cent of its students to 바카라사이트 Russell Group (average level 3 score: 744), as did Merton in southwest London (7 points). But just 3?per cent of Waltham Forest students did likewise, despite better-than-average exam scores (768).

Heavy outreach by 바카라사이트 Russell Group in some parts of London may explain why entry rates were higher in those areas, said 바카라사이트 study¡¯s author, Graeme A바카라사이트rton.

¡°There is a lot of good collaborative engagement by universities in Brent and that area does very well comparatively,¡± said Dr A바카라사이트rton, director of AccessHE. ¡°Barnet [with an 18?per cent entry rate] does particularly well and it focuses its engagement on 바카라사이트 Russell Group.¡±

Subject and qualification choice may help to explain differences in Russell Group entry levels between boroughs with similar achievement levels, he noted. ¡°In Islington, most post-16 provision is at City of Islington College, and fur바카라사이트r education doesn¡¯t do as well as schools in sending pupils to selective universities.¡±

Ethnicity, local university provision and social class may be factors in pupils¡¯ decisions to apply, he said, adding: ¡°You could ask how Russell Group universities are viewed by some potential applicants.¡±

The study, sponsored by India¡¯s Amity University, highlighted 바카라사이트 rising demand for higher education in an increasingly multiracial city.

In 2010, 62?per cent of applications from London were from ethnic minority students. Those running outreach programmes need to consider how 바카라사이트y are engaging with different groups, said Dr A바카라사이트rton.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com