Parental Education, Social Class and Entry to Higher Education 1976-86

Abstract

SUMMARY This paper uses the Scottish School Leavers' Survey series to estimate the net effects of parental education and parental social class, first, on a child's attainment of qualifications for entry to higher education and, second, on the chances of entry to higher education conditional on qualifying. Attention is given both to the university sector and to degree and advanced non-degree courses in the public sector. The findings confirm those of earlier studies but show in particular that the contribution of parental education to higher education entry is robust and has a basis in social and educational change that is wider than previously suspected. Projections of student demand that ignore these features are likely to be underestimates.