North eastern students six times less likely to start medicine and dentistry degrees than London peers, finds analysis

The data paints a 'worrying picture of a consistent and pervasive regional divide' in university access, charity says

More than six times as many students from London were accepted on to medicine and dentistry university courses than their peers from north-east England, a new damning analysis reveals.

Only 245 students from the North East took up places for medicine and dentistry degrees last autumn, compared to 1,585 from London, Press Association analysis of Ucas data shows.

Across all subjects, five times as many students from London were accepted onto degree courses last year than in the North East – with even starker gaps in mathematical sciences and business.

A social mobility charity has warned that the data of university acceptances in England paints a “worrying picture of a consistent and pervasive regional divide” in university access.

The analysis comes amid a push by government to boost the number of medics in areas with staff shortages – and it also follows concerns about a North-South divide in education.

This month, MPs called on the government to take urgent action to narrow the “stark” attainment gap between young people in the north of England and those living in the rest of the country.

The data reveals that 21 per cent of all students taking up degree places were from London, while just 4 per cent were from the north east of England - a gap of 17 percentage points.

This can be partly explained by variations in population - as London has approximately three times as many adults than in the North East — but the difference is markedly larger in some subjects.

The gap for business and administration is 25 points, with just 3 per cent of acceptances coming from the North East (1,445 students), compared to 28 per cent (12,645 students) from London.

And there were 190 acceptances for mathematical sciences from the North East (making up 3 per cent of acceptances), compared to 1,520 from the capital (23 per cent) - a gap of 20 points.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder of social mobility charity the Sutton Trust, said: “These figures paint a worrying picture of a consistent and pervasive regional divide in access to university.

“Talent isn't dependent on where you grow up, so it's just not right that your chances of studying certain subjects at university are.”

Sir Peter called for more use of contextual admissions in the process - which is where universities take into account an applicant's background when making offers - as well as more outreach work.

He added: ”We have to do more to widen opportunities for talented teenagers in areas like the North East to access our best universities.“

The government has launched 12 'opportunity areas,' including five in the north, which aim to help boost the life chances of young people in these social mobility ‘coldspots’ .

But there isn’t one in the North East. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said the government’s initiative was “nowhere near enough”.

He said: ”Schools in disadvantaged areas frequently face extremely challenging circumstances, struggling to recruit and retain teachers and leaders, and too often labelled as failing by a draconian accountability system which stigmatises them.

“Schools cannot on their own turn round deeply entrenched disadvantage. These communities also need social and economic programmes which support families and provide more opportunities for secure, well-paid employment. Their young people need to believe they can succeed.”

In March this year, the Children's Commissioner warned that children in the north of England face a “double whammy of entrenched deprivation and poor schools”.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “Universities should be open for everyone with the talent and potential, regardless of their background or where they live.

“More people than ever before are going to university and entry rates for 18-year-olds from the North East increased by 26 per cent between 2010 and 2017.

”We know there is more to do. That's why the Office for Students has introduced a national programme giving £120m to 29 projects working in areas where there are low levels of young people going onto higher education.“

The government has also launched a Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy, and committed £70m to improving school performance in the north.