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Private Highs: Investigating University Overmatch Among Students from Elite Schools

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Listed:
  • Blanden, Jo

    (University of Surrey)

  • Cassagneau-Francis, Oliver

    (University College London)

  • Macmillan, Lindsey

    (University College London)

  • Wyness, Gill

    (University College London)

Abstract

Inequality in college attendance is a key driver of intergenerational mobility. We focus upstream to examine how elite high-schools – specifically UK private (feepaying) schools – shape university destinations across the achievement distribution. Using linked-administrative data, we show the main advantage conferred by private schools is not access to elite colleges for their best students, but that lower-achieving students are more likely to ‘overmatch’: lower-achieving pupils from private schools enrol in university courses around 15 percentiles higher ranked than similarly qualified state-school students. Examining mechanisms, we show that this overmatch is driven largely by differences in application behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanden, Jo & Cassagneau-Francis, Oliver & Macmillan, Lindsey & Wyness, Gill, 2025. "Private Highs: Investigating University Overmatch Among Students from Elite Schools," IZA Discussion Papers 18171, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18171
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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