State Students Outperform Private At University: New research from The Higher Education Funding Council (Hefce), which looked at 130,000 students who started their degrees in 2007, has suggested that state schooled students were more likely to get a 2:1 degree or above when considering a number of measures. Professor Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of Hefce, said the research was the most comprehensive of its kind – with the figure of 130,000 representing around 80% of all undergraduate admissions in England in a single year.

The Independent Schools Council countered the report, stating that a larger share overall of their pupils achieve a 2:1 or above – 67% compared to 62.3% of students educated in state colleges or schools.

State Students Outperform Private At University, Suggests Hefce Report

However, the data from Hefce, when students with similar A-levels were compared, suggests that private school candidates often do not perform as well during their degrees.

For instance, among students who achieved ABB at A-level, around seven in ten (69%) independent school students went on to achieve a 2:1 or better, compared to more than three quarters (77%) of state schooled individuals. Similar figures also exist for those pupils entering university with BBB – 61% of independent school students achieved a 2:1 or above, in comparison to 70% of state students.

In addition, the study also found that individuals from disadvantaged areas tended to do less well than those who were not from similar regions – despite the fact that they achieved the same A-level results. This finding suggests that students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to be at a disadvantage, even when they may have overcome significant barriers to get to university in the first place.

As such, the report’s findings have significant meaning to the debate on how universities go about selecting candidates and offering places. As well as A-level results, universities commonly also consider what is called ‘contextual data’ – i.e. if a student is from a deprived background, or attended a state school, they may be made a lower offer than someone who came from a privileged background and attended an independent school for instance. The thinking is that this approach benefits pupils who, whilst they have not had the advantage of a private education, still show excellent attainment and potential. Many universities also offer means-tested bursaries and scholarships to provide financial aid to less well-off students.

Talking about the findings, Barnaby Lennon, chairman of the Independent School Council felt that to divide the school population was ‘too crude to yield anything of value’.