Gap is widening between private and state pupils at top universities

THE GULF between the number of state and private school students being admitted to top universities is the largest since records began.

The gap has been steadily growing for the past six years, despite a diversity drive that has seen leading universities pumping millions of pounds into “access agreements”, according to data published yesterday by the Department for Education (DFE).

In 2008/9, the first year that data were recorded in the current format, there was a 37 per cent gap between private and state school educated students, which rose to 42 per cent in 2014/15, the most recent set of figures. In 2014/15, 65 per cent of children educated at private schools went on to study at the UK’S best universities, compared to 23 per cent of pupils from state schools.

Some Russell Group universities run summer schools for disadvantaged students, while others provide free tutoring for them during their A-levels.

Professor John Jerrim, an expert in education and social statistics, said: “Universities have been putting a lot of money into access but there are question marks about how well that money is being spent.”

All higher education institutions that charge tuition fees of more than £6,000 a year must have an “access agreement” in which they set out what steps they will take to boost diversity. But Professor Jerrim, of the Institute of Education, University College London, said that these agreements were largely “boxticking” exercises, adding: “They go out and spend money but they don’t know if it works or not”. “Most of the emphasis is on sixth form and a lot of resource is spent on bursaries, which will only have minimal impact,” he said.

Nick Hillman, of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said that universities’ efforts to improve access were “well meaning” but not “evidence based”.

Sarah Stevens, head of policy at Russell Group, said the group would spend more than £250 million this year on schemes designed to boost diversity.

Professor Les Ebdon, of Fair Access to Higher Education, said: “Where you come from still has a disproportionate impact on where you will end up in life. That means that we are all missing out of getting the most from talented people who have the ability, but not yet the opportunity, to benefit our society, our economy and our country as a whole.”

Jo Johnson, the Universities Minister, said: “Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are 43 per cent more likely to go to university compared with 2009/2010, but we know there is more to do to close the gap.”