Middle classes’ preference for a university education

MIDDLE-CLASS PARENTS are more likely to lean towards a university education over a degree-level apprenticeship for their children, new research reveals. The poll, published today by the Sutton Trust ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, has found that the majority of parents still favour a more traditional education.

Middle-class parents were more inclined towards advising a university route, it found, when compared to the response from working-class families. And twice as many professional parents, it concludes, would still choose university over apprenticeships.

Surveying 1,000 parents of school-aged children, the survey asked questions over confidence when it came to giving advice.

Two-thirds of respondents felt that university offered better career prospects, while one in five parents said they were concerned over the quality of apprenticeships on offer.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, said it is clear that more must be done to raise awareness of and dispel myths about apprenticeships.

“Most importantly we need to increase the prestige of apprenticeships as is the case in Switzerland and Germany,” he said. “This includes dispelling the view that apprenticeships are not of high quality and giving parents and teachers access to the information they need.”