Examination Results of Pupils Offered Assisted Places: comparing GCE Advanced level results in independent and state schools

Abstract

Summary This paper reports the findings of a study comparing the public examination results at GCE advanced (A) and advanced supplementary (AS) levels of pupils with assisted places (APs) in the independent sector and pupils in the state sector of similar ability. The examination entries and results of pupils with APs were compared with those of pupils who had gained an AP at the same school but had not attended that school; they had, instead, taken their A levels in the state sector. After controlling for ability it was found that the AP pupils achieved a significantly higher total point score in their A/AS levels than the pupils in the state sector and that the average point score per examination entry was higher for AP than state pupils. The results suggest that there is an advantage in taking up an AP but the possibility cannot be ruled out that the advantage for AP pupils arises from factors other than their education in the independent sector (e.g. family background and parental involvement).