The University of Bristol has recently conducted a study, the results of which suggest that students at state schools do better at university than students who have come from private schools, however are less likely to convert this into a graduate job. 88% of Bristol students from state backgrounds got an 2:1 or better, compared to 85% from public schools. Just 58% of state school graduates find a professional job, while 74% of privately educated graduates will land a graduate level job within the same period of leaving university. Research suggest that out of the students who land a graduate job and achieved a first, state educated students have an average starting salary of £3000 lower than pupils who attended fee paying schools. Out of those who land a 2:1, the difference is £2000.
Henry Morris, the founder of upReach - a charity to help students from less economically privileged backgrounds succeed academically - suggests that while he supports all the efforts taken to help pupils from lower income families get into university, more needs to be done to help them to fulfil their potential once they get there. He has launched a pilot project - based in London and Exeter - in which 40 students are selected due to their eligibility for free school meals or full bursaries at university, and are given the chance to be mentored by staff working for the charity's partners.While employers are not interested in whether you came from a private or state school background, the report implies that there may be some skills that are of interest to employers that private schools focus on to a greater degree than state schools, thus rendering the difference in graduate employment and graduate starting salaries. upReach aim to help students build on their networking and gain more professional experience. Privately educated students may benefit from having parents in higher flying jobs that can get them access to impressive work experience placements and internships. What this research suggests, and what upReach are trying to implement, is that more needs to be done to create a greater balance of opportunities for all students regardless of their social or economic backgrounds. Academic success is no longer enough to land a graduate job, with greater emphasis being placed on professional experience and skills that aren't learnt in the classroom.
