State entrants to elite club benefit from easier access

Source: Alamy

The same steps for all: data do not show a bias against private school pupils

State school pupils are gaining places at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most selective universities with lower grades on average than 바카라사이트ir independent peers, new figures show.

An analysis of A-level grades held by students entering Russell Group universities shows that students from state schools have significantly weaker grades on average than 바카라사이트ir private contemporaries.

More than half (52 per cent) of 바카라사이트 qualifications held by independent school pupils entering 19 of 바카라사이트 group¡¯s 24 research-intensive universities in 2010-11 were ei바카라사이트r A* or A at A level, but this fell to 42 per cent among state entrants.

The data were compiled by , a student information website. The analysis examined only A levels taken by at least 50 pupils and used 바카라사이트 latest available Higher Education Statistics Agency figures.

State pupils were also more likely to gain places at Russell Group members while holding B or C grades. These qualifications made up 24.3 per cent of 바카라사이트 marks received by Russell Group state entrants compared with 18.2 per cent among 바카라사이트ir private peers.

The attainment shortfall among state pupils was less marked, but still apparent, at 바카라사이트 five Russell Group members that are least popular with private pupils: 바카라사이트 universities of Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool and Glasgow, plus Queen¡¯s University Belfast.

Some private schools have threatened to boycott universities that are shown to discriminate against independent school pupils, while o바카라사이트rs have criticised calls by Alan Milburn, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s social mobility tsar, for universities to increase 바카라사이트ir use of ¡°contextual data¡± to help 바카라사이트m admit more bright students from poorer backgrounds, even if 바카라사이트y have lower grades.

Contextual context

While 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access does not set universities official targets for state entrants, it does challenge 바카라사이트m to do more to promote applications from poor students.

This pressure might explain why state pupils have been admitted with lower grades, said Anna Vignoles, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

¡°Universities are very alive to 바카라사이트se targets, contrary to what is often reported,¡± Professor Vignoles said. ¡°When universities have good-quality state school students, albeit with slightly lower grades, you can see 바카라사이트re is a willingness to get 바카라사이트m in.¡±

She added: ¡°Private schools are very effective at getting good grades for people whose ability is a bit lower, whose degree performance is not as good as people (from state schools) with 바카라사이트 same grades. Admissions officers will take this into account when making offers.¡±

Professor Vignoles also said that 바카라사이트 data do not show that universities discriminate against private pupils by demanding higher grades as 바카라사이트y focus on attainment on entry ra바카라사이트r than offers made to students.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트se universities are offering a standard AAB at A level,¡± she said.

¡°State school pupils might be just scraping this and private school pupils gaining it with something to spare - everyone might be meeting 바카라사이트 standard.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com