4th April 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
New research has shown that state school students do better at university than those who attended independent schools who achieved the same A’ Level grades. The study, carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council followed the progress of 130,000 students who began degrees in 2007, and looked at factors including type of school, background and ethnicity. The study concluded that where students had the same A’ Level grades, state school pupils were significantly more likely to achieve a 2:1 than their private school counterparts.
A comparison of students who achieved ABB at A’ Level showed that 69% of independent school students with these grades went on to achieve a 2:1, compared with 77% of state school students. Where students gained three B grades, 61% of independent school students achieved a 2:1 or above, compared with 70% of state school students. The Independent schools council queried results, pointing out that independent school students performed better, with 67% of private school students achieving a 2:1 or above compared with 62% of state school students. Yet when students who achieved the same A’ Level grades were compared, the results consistently showed that state school students out-performed their private school counterparts.
The results of the study will have a significant impact on how universities select their candidates. Universities have increasingly relied on contextual data during the selection process, which includes looking at students’ school and socio-economic background. After looking at this data, universities sometimes decide to make lower offers to state school students on the basis that they have not had the advantages of private education. The results of the study will encourage universities to support applications from state school students, as it shows that despite having fewer advantages, state school students with the same grades out-perform their private school counterparts at university level.