Private schools do not outperform in core GCSEs after socioeconomic adjustment

Private school pupils in England do not perform better than state school pupils in the core subjects at GCSE when results are adjusted for socioeconomic background, a study has found.

But state school pupils achieve worse results in arts subjects at GCSE, even after accounting for socioeconomic factors, according to University College London (UCL) research.

The researchers said the findings raise questions about the strength of creative education in state schools and the long-term effects of this disparity.

Researchers used data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study to track the lives of private and state school pupils in England who sat their GCSEs in 2016/17.

The study examined the relationship between GCSE performance and social factors, including family income and parental occupation status.

Before adjusting for socioeconomic status, private school pupils achieved on average over four fifths (83%) of a grade higher across all GCSE subjects, assuming eight were studied.

But once socioeconomic status was accounted for, this difference was close to, and statistically indistinguishable from, zero.

The study, published in the Cambridge Journal of Education, found state school pupils had the edge, after accounting for socioeconomic status, when just the core subjects were considered.

State school pupils achieved on average two thirds (66%) of a grade higher than private schools in maths, two fifths (41%) of a grade higher in science subjects and slightly higher in English.

A greater focus in state schools on the core subjects might partly account for this change, the researchers suggested.

But the study found that private schools pupils scored just over half a grade higher in creative subjects after accounting for socioeconomic differences.

Lead author Professor Jake Anders, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, said: "It has long been assumed that the private sector outperforms the state sector at GCSE level and raw data indicates just that."

"However, this doesn't allow for the vast socioeconomic differences between private and state."

"Over the last two decades state schools have increased their focus on the core subjects to deliver results, which is reflected here."

"There could also be several additional reasons why they have outperformed private schools, including a shift in focus for private schools at GCSE level."

"Private schools also have the resources to expose pupils to a rich variety of cultural experiences, which could go some way to explain why they produce stronger results in the creative subjects."

The findings come after a report by the Sutton Trust this month suggested that class "inequalities" exist in creative industries in the UK where high-profile figures are more likely to have attended private schools and top universities.

Professor Anders added: "A small minority of children attend private schools in England, but these alumni are particularly overrepresented in high-ranking roles across the creative industries."

"While it is positive for social mobility that state schools are producing stronger results in the core subjects, inequality still exists, and is arguably becoming more pronounced, in industries such as acting, music and art."

Co-author Professor Francis Green, IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, said: "The results reflect the wider, non-core curriculum that private schools are able to offer with the resources available to them for this."

"State school alumni's disadvantages in the creative world will not diminish until this gap starts to be reduced."

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: "Exam achievements by pupils from all types of schools should be celebrated."

"Families choose independent schools for a variety of reasons, including the extracurricular offer, the holistic education experience and the breadth of subjects available for young people to study."

Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "It is brilliant news that this research finds that state school pupils perform so well in English, maths and science and testament to the hard work of teachers and leaders."

"While state schools strive to deliver high-quality arts subjects, and achieve some excellent results, they are affected by the relative shortage of funding and it is increasingly difficult to deliver some of these subjects within the existing financial constraints."

"The new Government must address this issue. All children deserve the opportunity to flourish in all subjects."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are clear that where you come from shouldn't impact your life chances, and that's why we are continuing to work across government to break down barriers to opportunity."

"High and rising standards are at the heart of this government's mission to do so."