Stephen Tall

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Here’s a graph showing the proportion of pupils predicted BBB at A-level who apply to at least two of the most selective universities according to the type of school they attend – the data’s from this Sutton Trust / Government report, Tracking the Decision-making of High Achieving Higher Education Applicants:

Here’s how the TES reports the figures:

The majority of high-achieving A-level students at comprehensive schools and colleges do not apply to top universities, often due to a lack of confidence in their academic abilities, a major government-commissioned report suggests.

Good students who choose less prestigious institutions are also often concerned about the cost of living, distance from home and the job prospects associated with a course, the study found.

Researchers analysed the university applications of nearly 13,500 pupils predicted at least three B grades at A level, and interviewed a sample to find out their motivations. Only four in 10 comprehensive pupils applied to research-intensive Russell Group and 1994 Group universities. The report revealed that pupils who had not applied to top institutions because of a lack of confidence in their abilities often came to regret their decision.