Bias against independent schools getting into Uni

[Thegirlisnotright]

Is there a bias against independent schools when it comes to university entrance? Any insights appreciated.

It’s not about saving money, it’s about the belief that unis are biased in favour of state schools without giving the slightest consideration to why a contextual offer might exist.

Jumping from private to state for 6th form is definitely a thing.

However a lot of private schools will only accept you into their sixth form if you got at least a grade 7 in the subject at GCSE and appear on-track for an A grade at A-level, whereas state sixth forms usually only ask for a grade 6 at GCSE.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those who claim to be moving their DC to state in order to get an advantage for university entrance might actually be using that as a cover story for "only got a load of grade 6s at GCSE and the school have suggested they'll be happier elsewhere"

Yes that’s because far greater numbers of them are going to get a top string of grades at A level

Plenty of state comprehensives ask for 7s now as well.

DD's comp wants 6 x 7-9 including English and Maths just to be considered for a 6th form place.

I think you'll find that's very unusual.

Yes agree! Dd got 6 in maths and ds2 got 6 in English (lit anyway) so they would have been scuppered! As would many others. Ds2’s pal who just finished a maths degree at Cambridge got a 6 in English!

7s in subjects studied tho esp maths and MFL is not uncommon.

Once again people have misunderstood contextual offers. Doesn't matter if you're from private or independent, you won't get a contextual offer unless you meet the criteria which is strict and usually includes things like care leaver, 1st gen into uni or going to a very very crap school. I know a child who went to a private boarding school through the springboard foundation and still got a contextual offer because the criteria isn't just whether the school is private or not.
Either way the stats are that kids from independent schools may well be better prepped for entrance to uni, but their state school counterparts do better once at uni. Which is interesting because usually students who went to private school are much better supported financially whilst at uni so technically should be doing better as they have more time due to smaller expectations to take up work etc.
I don't think this has much to do with hand holding as a lot of state sixth forms really do a lot of that too. Lots of private sixth forms are frankly not worth the money but I suspect it has a lot to do with the fact these kids for the most part are coming from homes where they received lots of hand holding and suddenly that stops at uni.
Anyway whether private or state, your home life is the biggest indicator of your success hence why contextual offers look at that, not just your school type.

Not entirely true.

Bristol university publishes a list and I'm very surprised at their list of schools they give contextual offers to. DD's school is on there along with pretty much all the other state schools on our short list.

You may be eligible for a contextual offer if one of the following statements applies to you:
You have attended an aspiring state school or college
You live in an area with low progression to higher education
You have completed a University of Bristol outreach programme
You have spent time in care
You receive (or have received) free school meals

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/

Did you even read my post? The school you come from is only one part of the contextual offer. You can come from a private school and get a contextual offer. They will have published the schools from where kids have received contextual offers but that could've been due to all sorts of factors. Please research contextual offers or contact the university directly if you need an explanation.

Yes and I know children with contextual offers from Bristol based entirely on the secondary school they are at.

Yes and that would be factored in the offer! Its impossible to make everything completely fair but unless it's your own child and you saw the form filled in, it's extremely unlikely that you know that child's situation exactly.

I can assure you that I do know exactly what went on the forms.

That's great and that means the school they went to is bad enough to qualify for a contextual offer. Whether you feel that way about the school or not is a different story.

Bristol university update their school list annually, and you would see it is getting more strict on the latest list, after much scrutiny, most of the schools/colleges eligible in 2024 cycle get less than average result nationally.

Just an fyi for those switching sector at 16+, that Oxford University
look at where GCSEs are taken (not just A levels): https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/decisions/contextual-data

So do Cambridge: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/after/contextual-data

It's always been where the last 3 years of education has taken place

This topic always gets people upset. But the fact is, top universities want to pick students who will do well there. At the same time, they need to publish their state% figures and don’t want to look bad. So they’re trying to balance these two things.

So nowadays they’re learning to look through the “private school polish”. So that good candidates from private and state are getting in. Fewer average students are getting in by virtue of being privately educated.

i.e. if you believe your kid is bright, they’ll get into a good uni whether they’re at private or state. If you believe your kid is average, probably don’t bother sending them private in the hopes of getting them into a good uni.

I think it’s fair.

Full disclosure: I’m sending my kids private to get an all-round solid education, and I believe they’re awesome and will get into their first choice uni whatever happens.

A lot of private schools are nothing special.