State school students do better at university They get more firsts than private pupils with same A-levels

‘Capable of more development’

STUDENTS from state schools are more likely to achieve top degrees than their privately educated counterparts with the same A-level grades.

They gain a higher proportion of first and second- class degrees, a study reveals. And state school pupils who managed only three Cs at A-level do even better at university than privately educated students with the same grades.

Education experts say this is because while private schools excel at getting the best out of their pupils at A-level, some state schools do not – so pupils only realise their full potential at university. State- educated students could also work harder for a degree because they are less likely to be able to rely on family connections to get a good job.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England examined 284,515 UK graduates in 2013-14 to see how course and student characteristics affected chances of gaining an upper second or first-class degree. Eighty-two per cent of state school graduates gained an upper second or first, compared with 73 per cent of independent school graduates. The HEFCE report says: ‘There is only a small difference between the two groups at the highest entry grades, but the difference widens considerably for those entering with A-level grades AAC and below.’

Ninety- four per cent of state school pupils arriving at university with four A-level grade As gained a first or upper second, compared with 93 per cent of privately educated students. But for those arriving with A-level grades AAC and below, the figures were 87 per cent and 82 per cent respectively, and for two Bs and a C or below, the gap widened still further – 80 per cent to 72 per cent.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said: ‘Independent schools get much more out of their pupils in terms of A-level grades. But it appears state schools aren’t, as a group, able to fully develop the potential of all their pupils.

‘So when they get to university, the independent school pupils have got there, really operating at the maximum of their potential, whereas state school pupils are capable of more development.’

The findings may also be explained by the fact that state school pupils ‘work flat out’ to get a good degree as their parents lack connections to help them find a job. They could also be attending less prestigious universities.

Professor Smithers said: ‘Some universities give out firsts and 2.1s a lot more cheaply than do others. Independent school pupils will be going to universities which are a bit tougher on that.’

White pupils are more likely to achieve a first or upper second than those from ethnic minorities. Seventy-six per cent of white students gained top degrees in 2013-14, compared with 60 per cent of black and ethnic minority graduates.

Women are more likely to achieve a first or an upper second – 74 per cent did so in 2013-14, compared with 70 per cent of men.