UCL in the News: Private schools still 'reproduce inequalities'

Private schools are continuing to "reproduce inequalities" in British society, academics claimed today.

Teachers in independent schools are more likely to have postgraduate qualifications than their colleagues in the state sector, according to the results of two studies. …

The researchers said that the flow into the independent sector of both newly qualified and experienced teachers constitutes "a small though increasing deduction from the supply of teachers available to sate schools". …

Independent school pupils also enjoyed facilities "normally far better than those available in state schools" and the same pupils continued to benefit after leaving school by securing higher salaries. …

Co-author Stephen Machin, research director of the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and professor of economics at UCL, added: "Since selection into the [independent schools], despite some bursaries and the assisted places scheme, is primarily based on families' ability to pay, and given the substantial returns achieved, it is hard to escape the conclusion that private schools have served to reproduce inequalities in British society." …