Many state schools ‘are more socially selective than average grammar’

DOZENS of comprehensives are more socially exclusive than the average grammar school, a report has found.

Poorer pupils are less likely to get into top-performing comprehensive schools than their peers even if there is one in their local area, according to research by the Sutton Trust.

The social mobility charity looked at the top 500 secondary schools in England by the Attainment 8 measure, which assesses the achievement of a pupil across eight subjects at GCSE.

It found more than 150 comprehensives in England were more ‘socially selective’ than the average grammar, which traditionally select on the basis of academic ability.

The charity said that on average the top comprehensives took 40 per cent fewer pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) – a key measure of poverty – than the average comprehensive. The research suggested that about a third of this gap is down to the schools being located in more affluent areas, but two-thirds represent ‘some form of social selection within that area’.

These top comprehensives have 30 per cent fewer pupils eligible for FSM than live in their catchment areas, the Sutton Trust said.

This could be down to a ‘complex mixture of factors’, including schools’ complicated admissions policies, parental decisionmaking and degrees of parental agency, it added.

The study also exposed how levels of social selection differed across England. It found there were increasing levels of FSM eligibility in the North East, but fewer top comprehensives and ‘increasing levels of social selectivity’ in the best non-academically selective schools.

The charity has called on the Government to include an assessment of fair access in Ofsted inspections and to address financial barriers such as uniform costs.

Sir Peter Lampl, its founder, said: ‘The levels of social segregation across the school system are unacceptable. The poorest parts of the country are hit by a double whammy of having the fewest top comprehensive schools, which are also the most socially selective. This is deeply concerning.

‘We need to urgently address this problem to create a more balanced system and raise the quality of all schools. The Government should review the school admissions code to ensure all state schools take a mix of pupils which reflects their local community and provide disadvantaged pupils with a fair chance to access top-performing schools.’

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the union supported the charity’s call for a review. He added: ‘Fairer access is not just about admissions practices. It is also about ensuring that all schools have the support and resources they need to provide a high-quality education.

‘We have an inspection system which often actively damages schools that face the greatest challenges with negative ratings which make it more difficult to recruit staff and pupils.’

The Department for Education said: ‘Standards have risen sharply since 2010, with 89 per cent of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 68 per cent 13 years ago.’

‘This is deeply concerning’