State pupils close gap in core GCSE subjects - but not in creative arts

Pupils in England who attend fee-paying schools no longer outperform their state school peers in core GCSEs once results are adjusted for socioeconomic background, but they still lag behind in the creative arts, according to a study.

- Sally Weale

Researchers say the findings indicate state school students are making strong progress in science, maths and English, reflecting curriculum priorities over the past two decades.

When it comes to music, drama and art, however, private school pupils remain ahead, achieving better GCSE results than their state school counterparts even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, the University College London study found.

"It has long been assumed that the private sector outperforms the state sector at GCSE level and raw data indicates just that," said the lead author, Prof Jake Anders of the UCL's centre for education policy and equalising opportunities. "However, this doesn't allow for the vast socioeconomic differences between private and state."

His research found that before adjustment, private school pupils achieve on average four-fifths of a grade higher across eight GCSE subjects. Once socioeconomic status is taken into account, the difference is close to zero.