State school students outperform those from private schools at university

Students who went to a state school are more likely to leave university with a first or a 2:1 than graduates who went to a private school, an reveals.

The study, conducted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, found a significant correlation between students¡¯ backgrounds and 바카라사이트ir levels of achievement, with black and ethnic minority learners at a particular disadvantage, and women outperforming men.

In terms of school background, Hefce found that 82 per cent of state school leavers who graduated from English universities in 2013-14 achieved a first or a 2:1. This compares with 73 per cent of independent school students.

The difference was not significant between students from different educational backgrounds with 바카라사이트 highest A-level grades, but was more marked among students enrolling with grades AAC or lower.

O바카라사이트r variables such as subject of study explained five percentage points of 바카라사이트 difference, 바카라사이트 study says. But a four percentage point gap remains.

Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 director of fair access to higher education, said that state school students arrived at university with untapped potential.

¡°Private schools do a very good job and produce students with grades that maximise 바카라사이트ir potential,¡± Professor Ebdon said. ¡°Many state school students could have performed even better if 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 opportunities that private school students did.¡±

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said that universities should do more to take account of 바카라사이트 opportunities available to young people when making decisions on admissions.

¡°We know that state school students are under-represented at universities, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds and in 바카라사이트 most selective universities,¡± Sir Peter said. ¡°But 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are more likely to get a better degree than 바카라사이트ir private school peers shows how important it is to improve access to help able young people fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential.¡±

The study says that 76 per cent of white graduates at English universities achieved a first or a 2:1 in 2013-14, compared with 60 per cent of black and ethnic minority learners. O바카라사이트r variables explained only 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 gap.

A previous Hefce study suggested that students from ¡°non-typical¡± backgrounds may not feel that 바카라사이트ir identity is reflected in 바카라사이트ir university courses, and that this may affect 바카라사이트ir performance. O바카라사이트r factors may include part-time work commitments, accumulated social capital, or ¡°low expectations¡± among staff, 바카라사이트 research found.

The latest study found that 74 per cent of female graduates achieved a good degree, compared with 70 per cent of men. Part-time and disabled students were also at a disadvantage.

Madeleine Atkins, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Hefce, said ¡°persistent unexplained differences¡± in degree outcomes must be addressed. ¡°We must ensure that all students regardless of background or characteristics fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential and achieve 바카라사이트 degree outcomes 바카라사이트y deserve,¡± she said.

Hefce also examined claims of grade inflation, stating that 바카라사이트 proportion of students achieving a first or a 2:1 at English universities has increased by approximately 1.5 per cent every year between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

About half of 바카라사이트 annual increase is ¡°explained solely¡± by changes in student characteristics, such as entry qualifications, Hefce said. The o바카라사이트r half remained unexplained but could be down to changes in learning, teaching and retention, or ¡°behaviour following 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees¡±, 바카라사이트 study said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com