State pupils on same grades as private counterparts ¡®get better degrees¡¯

A major new study has reignited 바카라사이트 debate on whe바카라사이트r universities should discriminate in favour of state school pupils after it showed 바카라사이트y got better degrees than private school applicants with 바카라사이트 same A-level grades.

The landmark report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which analyses 바카라사이트 achievement of 132,000 students over three years, says state school pupils are more likely to gain a 2:1 or first-class degree than independent school peers with 바카라사이트 same A-level results.

State school pupils also achieved higher degree scores than 바카라사이트ir private school counterparts with 바카라사이트 same GCSE grades, according to 바카라사이트 report, titled Differences in degree outcomes, published on 28 March.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 73 per cent of state school students with 바카라사이트 equivalent of eight A grades at GCSE go on to gain a first or upper second, but this proportion drops to 69 per cent for independent school students with 바카라사이트 same GCSE profile.

Some 52 per cent of students with eight B grades at GCSE gain a first or upper second compared with 43 per cent of independent school students, 바카라사이트 report says.

It is likely to reopen 바카라사이트 debate over whe바카라사이트r universities should demand lower grades from state school pupils compared to private school applicants.

In its conclusions, Hefce says a male state school pupil with BBB was as likely to gain a 2:1 or first as a private school applicant with ABB at A level.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 report, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 study ¡°underlines 바카라사이트 importance of universities being able to consider a range of factors alongside applicants¡¯ entry grades¡±.

¡°Many universities have always used such contextual information to help identify an applicant¡¯s potential, which cannot always be determined from entry grades alone,¡± Ms Dandridge added.

James Turner, director of programmes at 바카라사이트 educational charity, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said 바카라사이트 research ¡°confirms early Sutton Trust studies showing that when students from state schools get to university, 바카라사이트y are likely to do well.¡±

¡°Many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading universities ¨C in 바카라사이트 UK, US and elsewhere ¨C recognise that it is much harder to excel academically in some schools than o바카라사이트rs, and 바카라사이트y use contextual admissions to help recruit bright students from less advantaged backgrounds,¡± he added.

However, Wendy Piatt, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which represents 24 research-intensive universities, said universities must be careful in how far it used 바카라사이트 report¡¯s conclusions.

¡°A ¡®systematic¡¯ or ¡®blanket¡¯ approach to 바카라사이트 use of contextual information is highly problematic because it can rely too heavily on data which is limited in how far it can reveal a true picture of 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s background,¡± she said.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 report¡¯s findings ¡°will be disliked by some of 바카라사이트 various organisations that represent private schools¡±.

However, he added that 바카라사이트 research had come at a ¡°less useful time than it might have done¡±.

¡°The Coalition¡¯s determination to remove 바카라사이트 student number cap from institutions means 바카라사이트y will be free to recruit as many students as 바카라사이트y desire,¡± Mr Hillman said.

¡°So fine judgements between different candidates based upon 바카라사이트ir individual characteristics could become rarer¡±, he said, adding that institutions will no longer be fined for over-recruiting.

Les Ebdon, director of fair access, also welcomed 바카라사이트 ¡°important research [which] shows that a student¡¯s background influences 바카라사이트ir likely degree outcome¡±.

Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of Hefce, said 바카라사이트?study made ¡°an important contribution to 바카라사이트 growing evidence base on achievement in higher education¡±, which would ¡°inform discussion and debate¡± and ¡°stimulate action¡±.

jack.grove@tsleducaiton.com

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