Academic schools help disadvantaged students enter uni

THE academic standard of a school is a critical factor in whether disadvantaged students complete Year 12.

THE academic standard of a school is a critical factor in whether disadvantaged students complete Year 12 and significantly raises their chances of studying at university by as much as five times.

A report released yesterday by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research found that pupils from low socio-economic backgrounds who are weak students and attend a school of low academic quality have a 30 per cent chance of completing Year 12, and a 10 per cent chance of studying at university.

But attending a school of high academic standards gave them an 80 per cent chance of finishing school, and a 50 per cent chance of going to university.

Affluent students were "insulated" by their family background from leaving school early, even weak students attending non-academic schools, but the academic quality of a school was still important in determining their chances of studying at university.

"The quality of the school matters and students from a low socio-economic background benefit even more from attending a school of high academic quality," the report says.

"For students suffering from a 'double dose' of disadvantage, academic school quality may indeed have a critical impact on their completing school.

"In contrast, coming from an advantaged background can insulate students from early school leaving."

The report analysed data from a long-term study of more than 6000 15-year-olds in 356 schools over the past 10 years.