LONDON, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A recent report showed that a majority of Oxford and Cambridge students come from elite schools in the UK.
Analysis of data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service suggested that eight leading unspecified schools had 1,310 Oxbridge acceptances, compared with 1,220 acceptances from 2,894 other schools in total.
The report published by the Sutton Trust on Friday found that independent school students are seven times more likely to be recruited by Oxford or Cambridge than their peers at comprehensive schools.
The situation is similar to other top-level universities, as the report said independent school students are twice more likely to be enrolled at Russell Group universities than comprehensive school students.
The Russell Group is a self-selected association of 24 public research universities in the UK.
The research also suggested the difference of application and progression among students with similar exam results in all kinds of schools.
The number of applicants for Oxbridge with high scores from independent schools is twice more than applicants from comprehensive schools.
The rate of acceptance by Oxbridge is also different, as independent schools enjoy a success rate of 35 percent and comprehensive schools 28 percent.
Based on the findings, universities were recommended to use contextual data to rate applicants' performances and backgrounds in more comprehensive ways.
The report also suggested schools should provide earlier career advice and guidance to their students.
"All young people, regardless of what area they grow up in, or what school they go to, should have access to high quality personal guidance that allows them to make the best informed choices about their future," founder of the Sutton Trust Sir Peter Lampl said in the foreword of the report. Enditem
