Entry to top universities: increased success for independent school pupils in 2007
26 November 2007
The Independent Schools Council's Annual Universities Survey shows a rise in the acceptance rate of ISC pupils at Russell Group (1) universities from 62.5% in 2006 to 65.6% in 2007 (2).
Acceptance rates for ISC pupils are especially high (over 80%) in biological sciences; physical sciences; mathematical and computer sciences; and technologies subjects.
Analysis of the results shows that gaining three As or Bs at A-level is the key to admission to leading universities (3). Quality is more important than quantity: it is better to have three high quality A-level grades than the same A-level points score made up from a larger number of less good results.
Speaking today, ISC Chief Executive Jonathan Shephard said:
"These results show once again the superb job done by ISC schools in preparing pupils for entry to leading universities. Our research also shows that A-level point scores can be misleading as a measure of achievement: it is quality, not quantity, that counts."
Notes to editors
ISC
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) represents the seven leading independent schools associations in the United Kingdom, collectively educating more than 500,000 children in 1,278 schools. ISC exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education; the development of talent at all levels of ability; and the widening of opportunity for children from all backgrounds to achieve their potential.
ISC Universities Survey 2007
A questionnaire was sent to 620 ISC schools with sixth forms. 139 schools responded, producing a database of 34,700 applications to 4,500 courses at 217 universities.
A-level points
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) gives each A-level pass a points score as follows:
A 120
B 100
C 80
D 60
E 40
As an example, a pupil with 3 As will get 360 points; a pupil with one A and three Cs will also get 360 points. For many courses at leading universities 3 As is the normal entry requirement, so a student with one A and 3 Cs is unlikely to be accepted. Other commentators have used average A-level point scores which would suggest that one A and three Cs is "equivalent" to 3 As (4). This does not correspond with the decisions on admission taken by leading universities.
ISC Bulletin
The full analysis of ISC's research in the area of university admissions will be published in the next edition of the ISC Bulletin in the New Year.
Press enquiries: Alexandra Caish, Head of Press, ISC
Telephone: (office) 020 7766 7060 (mobile) 0788 5620713
Email: alex.caish@isc.co.uk
(1) Formed in 1994, the Russell Group is an association of 20 major research-intensive universities of the United Kingdom. The universities are Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial College London, King's College London, Leeds, Liverpool, London School of Economics & Political Science, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Queen's University Belfast, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, University College London and Warwick.
(2) The ISC survey is based on 34,700 applications to 4,500 courses at 217 universities from 139 ISC schools with sixth forms.
(3) The group of universities is the Sutton Trust Group, derived from the top universities based on average rankings in published university league tables: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Imperial College, London School of Economics, Nottingham, Oxford, St Andrews, University College London, York, Warwick.
(4) See, for example, "University admissions by individual schools", Sutton Trust September 2007.