How private school pupils dominate UK arts scene
PRIVATE school pupils are still disproportionately represented among Britain’s top actors and pop stars, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Sutton Trust found that around 42 per cent of British Bafta winners went to an independent school, as well as 19 per cent of winners at the Brit Awards – which is taking place tonight.
The study also found that 67 per cent of British Oscar winners were privately educated – including Eddie Redmayne, a former Eton pupil, and Kate Winslet, who studied at Redroofs Theatre School. This dwarfs the 7 per cent of pupils who attend private schools across the UK population as a whole.
The study names Harrow-educated Benedict Cumberbatch as well as former Etonian Damian Lewis as among the successful British actors who attended top fee-paying schools.
Other privately educated actors include Carey Mulligan, Rachel Weisz, Hugh Grant, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe. Among pop stars, Lily Allen, Chris Martin and Florence Welch all attended private schools.
The research comes after Dame Helen Mirren warned that acting is becoming the preserve of rich youngsters whose parents will fund them through drama school.
The study, which examined the educational backgrounds of more than 1,200 people working in high-level jobs, also shows the UK is still overwhelmingly run by privately educated graduates.
Around 75 per cent of the UK’s top judges went to a fee-paying school, and among top military personnel, 71 per cent were educated in the private sector. Around half of leading print journalists and solicitors were taught at fee-paying schools.
And in politics, half of the Cabinet were privately educated – including old Etonian Prime Minister David Cameron – compared to 13 per cent of the shadow cabinet, and around 32 per cent of MPs overall.
Yesterday the Sutton Trust’s chairman Sir Peter Lampl said: ‘Our research shows that your chances of reaching the top in so many areas of British life are very much greater if you went to an independent school.’