Eight of the UK’s top schools get as many students into Oxford and Cambridge universities as three-quarters of all schools and colleges put together, a study has found.

Analysis by social mobility charity The Sutton Trust showed just eight schools sent 1,310 pupils to Oxbridge over three years, while over the same period, 2,894 other schools sent just 1,220 students between them.

The eight schools were not named, but the charity said high levels of additional, specialist support at independent schools could explain why such a small number of institutions dominated Oxbridge admissions.

The report also found 42% of places at Oxford and Cambridge go to independent school students, even though just 7% of the general population attend a private school.

Other key findings in the Access to Advantage report included:

– Independent school pupils are seven times more likely to gain a place at Oxford or Cambridge compared to those in non-selective state schools, and over twice as likely to take a place at Russell Group institutions.

– 21% of higher education applications from independent schools are for Oxford or Cambridge, compared to 5% at comprehensive schools and 4% at sixth form colleges.

– Schools with similar exam results had very different rates of progression to top universities, and especially to Oxbridge. Almost a quarter (23%) of students in independent schools in the top fifth of schools for exam results applied to Oxbridge, but only 11% of students in comprehensives in the same high-achieving group of schools did so.

Cambridge University, where, along with Oxford, 42% of places go to independent school students (Nick Ansell/PA)
Cambridge University, where, along with Oxford, 42% of places go to independent school students (Nick Ansell/PA)

Meanwhile, the study, using data from between 2015 and 2017, also highlighted disparity among higher education applicants from different parts of England, with around 6% from the South East, South West, London and east of England going to Oxbridge, compared with only 3-4% of those from the North or the Midlands.

Several parts of the country had two or fewer acceptances to Oxbridge from state non-selective schools in all three years examined, including Halton, Knowsley, Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Rutland, Salford, Southampton and Thurrock.

The Sutton Trust said action was needed to address the “patchwork of higher education guidance and support”.

Founder Sir Peter Lampl said: “All young people, regardless of what area they grow up in, or what school they go to, should have access to high-quality personal guidance that allows them to make the best informed choices about their future.

“The admissions process also needs to change. We have made the case for giving poorer students a break through contextual admissions, but we also need universities to make it clear what grades these students need to access courses.”

The Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK universities including Oxford and Cambridge, said it was working hard to improve social mobility.

Chief executive Dr Tim Bradshaw said: “Russell Group universities believe strongly in the transformative power of higher education. We want to recruit students with potential and drive, regardless of background.

“There has been progress in recent years but today’s research underlines that this remains a big challenge.

“The root causes of under-representation are complex and solving them is a shared social mission, bringing together universities, schools, families and the Government.”

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: “This Government has failed to take meaningful action to improve access and outreach to open up the privileged, closed club of our most selective universities.

“Access to education is a right, not a privilege, but the scrapping of maintenance grants and trebling of tuition fees has hit talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Labour will scrap tuition fees and restore maintenance grants for disadvantaged students to widen access and ensure that higher education is available for the many, not the few.”

Chris Skidmore, who was appointed as universities minister, replacing Sam Gyimah, who quit over Brexit (PA)and Science
Chris Skidmore, who was appointed as universities minister, replacing Sam Gyimah, who quit over Brexit (PA)

Chris Skidmore, the newly-appointed universities minister, said: “Our reforms have meant record rates of disadvantaged 18-year-olds entered higher education and the latest UCAS data shows that progress is being made to further improve this.

“I am pleased to see that universities and further education colleges will be spending more than £860 million this year on measures to improve access and outcomes for disadvantaged students – up significantly from £404 million in 2009.”