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Access to grammar schools by socio-economic status

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  • Simon Burgess
  • Claire Crawford
  • Lindsey Macmillan

Abstract

One of the main motivations given for the proposed new expansion of grammar schools in England is to improve social mobility. We assess the role of existing grammar schools in promoting social mobility by examining access to grammar schools, differentiating among the 85% non-poor pupils using the National Pupil Database. We find stark differences in grammar school attendance within selective areas by socio-economic status, even when comparing pupils with the same Key Stage 2 attainment. High attaining children from the most deprived backgrounds are significantly less likely to attend a grammar school compared to similarly high attaining children from the least deprived backgrounds. Given these large inequalities in attendance to grammar schools, conditional on achievement, it is hard to see how such a system would promote the aim of improving social mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Burgess & Claire Crawford & Lindsey Macmillan, 2018. "Access to grammar schools by socio-economic status," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 50(7), pages 1381-1385, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:50:y:2018:i:7:p:1381-1385
    DOI: 10.1177/0308518X18787820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haroon Chowdry & Claire Crawford & Lorraine Dearden & Alissa Goodman & Anna Vignoles, 2013. "Widening participation in higher education: analysis using linked administrative data," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 176(2), pages 431-457, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matt Dickson & Lindsey Macmilllan, 2020. "Inequality in access to grammar schools," CEPEO Briefing Note Series 3, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, revised Apr 2020.
    2. Buscha, Franz & Gorman, Emma & Sturgis, Patrick, 2023. "Selective schooling and social mobility in England," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Buscha, Franz & Gorman, Emma & Sturgis, Patrick, 2023. "Selective schooling and social mobility in England," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118341, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Pastore, Chiara & Jones, Andrew M., 2023. "Human capital consequences of missing out on a grammar school education," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

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