White British pupils the least likely UK ethnic group to go to university, new research reveals

Figures show just under one in three of white British pupils go on to university

54.8 per cent of white British pupils go to university (Getty Images)

White British pupils are the least likely ethnic group in the UK to go to university, new research reveals. Young people from other ethnic groups who tend to perform badly in school tests and exams – including black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi pupils – are more likely to go on to higher education, the study shows.

The figures, compiled by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, show that just under one in three (32.6 per cent) of white British pupils go on to university. The next lowest participation rate is 37.4 per cent, for black Caribbean pupils.

Dr Claire Crawford, assistant professor of economics at the University of Warwick and one of the authors of the report, said: “The differences in higher education participation between pupils from different ethnic groups are staggering. We were particularly surprised to find that ethnic minority groups which have relatively lower school attainment are, on average, more likely to continue into higher education than white British pupils.

“This highlights that prior attainment is not one of the key drivers of the differences in university participation between these groups.”

The highest participation rate is achieved by Chinese students – 75.7 per cent of whom go on to university. Second are Indians with 67.4 per cent.

The report calls for more research to determine why white British pupils lag so far behind in university participation.

One theory is that ethnic minority parents are more aspirational than their white British peers – seeing education as a route out of poverty and disadvantage. By contrast, it is argued, white working-class parents’ poor experiences of education have left them jaundiced over the prospect that education could provide their children with a brighter future.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of Centre for Employment and Education Research at Buckingham University, said: “Ethnic minorities value education more than the white British do.”

He said that the UK had offered many ethnic minority families the first chance of a top-class education – whereas white British families have had the opportunity for years.

In addition, he argues, universities were under pressure from ministers to increase the participation of ethnic minority pupils. A Green Paper published last week called for a 20 per cent increase in ethnic minority participation by 2020.

Even among the most affluent group of students, just 54.8 per cent of white British pupils go to university.