Report highlights access benefit for children of graduates

State school students in England with university-educated parents are five times more likely to reach higher education than those from "disadvantaged backgrounds", and are also more likely to go to an elite institution.

December 14, 2012

That is 바카라사이트 finding of new research by academics at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, demonstrating 바카라사이트 part played by family background in determining which state-educated pupils go on to university.

The findings have emerged from an analysis of university entry data for four English-speaking countries - England, Canada, Australia and 바카라사이트 United States.

The research was conducted by John Jerrim, lecturer in economics and social science, and Anna Vignoles, visiting professor in 바카라사이트 Institute's department of quantitative social science.

It shows that 바카라사이트 association between family background and university entry is notably stronger in England and Canada than in Australia and 바카라사이트 United States.

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However, in all four countries, young people with university-educated parents are significantly more likely to go on to higher education and attend an elite institution.

Dr Jerrim and Professor Vignoles write: "Previous research has found that qualifications from elite institutions offer economic rewards above and beyond those from a 'typical' bachelor's degree.

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"Hence it is a concern that young people from advantaged homes are 바카라사이트 main beneficiaries of this labour-market premium."

The pair say that although improving 바카라사이트 school achievement of less advantaged pupils should be 바카라사이트 priority, universities could also be encouraged to use contextual data, including on family background, when considering student applications.

"This is a topical (and controversial) issue in England, where 바카라사이트 social mobility tsar, Alan Milburn, recently stated that he would 'like to see universities as a whole grasp 바카라사이트 nettle of contextual data'," 바카라사이트y write.

Dr Jerrim and Professor Vignoles also suggest that some governments might want to encourage universities to use contextual data by adapting England's policy of allowing institutions to boost 바카라사이트ir tuition fee revenue by accepting unlimited numbers of very able students (those achieving at least AAB at A level).

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The threshold could be altered for students from low-income families, providing elite institutions with an incentive to recruit a greater number of able children from disadvantaged backgrounds, 바카라사이트y suggest.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com

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