Scotland worst in UK for poorest children going straight to university, says report

Kieran Andrews reported on the findings of Access in Scotland for The Courier. 

“New research by the Sutton Trust shows that, although there has been a narrowing of the gap between rich and poor young people entering higher education across the UK, young people from the fifth most advantaged areas north of the border are four times more likely to go to university than those in the fifth least advantaged areas.

The equivalent figure in England is 2.4 times, and in Wales and Northern Ireland they are three times more likely to do so.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: “This damning report confirms that Scotland still has some way to go when it comes to offering the same opportunities to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Read his full piece here.