Kids in the North more likely to leave school with poorer exam results than southern pupils

KIDS in the North leave school with poorer exam results than the South — harming chances of a top university spot. Ten times as many southern kids gain three or more high grade A-levels compared with the North. Last year’s grades showed that of the ten best performing local authorities six were in London, two […]

KIDS in the North leave school with poorer exam results than the South — harming chances of a top university spot.

Ten times as many southern kids gain three or more high grade A-levels compared with the North.

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Kids in the North are more likely to leave school with poorer exam results than southern pupils[/caption]

Last year’s grades showed that of the ten best performing local authorities six were in London, two were in the South East with the remaining two being in York and Trafford in Greater Manchester.

One in six got three or more A-stars in the best performing areas, compared to one in 300 in parts of the North.

The figures confirm data from Oxford and Cambridge that show pupils from the Home Counties hoover up thousands of places, leaving hardly any from less advantaged areas.

In eight years just 28 pupils from five local authorities — Salford, Halton, Sandwell, Knowsley and North East Lincolnshire — were given places at elite institutions compared with 1,867 from Hertfordshire.

This allows southern kids to go on to muscle their way into the most sought-after careers.

Christopher McGovern, who chairs the Campaign for Real Education, said: “Children living in disadvantaged areas are 27 times more likely to attend a school rated inadequate.

“The North-South divide in educational attainment is an inexcusable failure of our school system.”

An Education Department spokesman said extra support and funding was being given to schools which need most help.