Rich seven times more likely to study at top univeristies

A study by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) says the gap between rich and poor youngsters attending the UK's leading institutions has widened since the 1990s.

In the mid-1990s the most advantaged fifth of youngsters were six times more likely to gain a place at the top third of selective universities than the most disadvantaged 40 per cent of teenagers – by the mid-2000s this had risen to seven times more likely.

The report suggests while elite universities have been making efforts to encourage more youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply, progress has stalled.

It said: "While there have been substantial increases in participation among the least advantaged 40 per cent of young people across higher education overall compared to the mid-1990s, the participation rate among the same group of young people at the top third of selective universities has remained almost flat over the same period."

The report found one of the main reasons many poor students are not attending top universities is because of their exam grades.

Teenagers from disadvantaged homes are less likely to achieve the top grades required by leading universities, and are also less likely to take the subjects needed to study on highly selective degree courses.

Students at fee-paying schools account for 15 per cent of all A-level entries, but produce 30 per cent of all A grades at that level, the report says. And only one in 10 pupils in state schools takes at least one science A-level, compared with one in three pupils in private and grammar schools.

The report calls for universities to work closely with schools and colleges to raise attainment.

The Russell Group, which represents the country's top research-led universities, including Leeds and Sheffield, has said improving pupil attainment at an early age is key to widening participation.

Director general Dr Wendy Piatt said: "Too often under-achievement is fuelled by low aspirations, low self-esteem and an absence of good advice about higher education courses and institutions."