Good grades and a desk 'key for university hopes'

Having a desk to work at, good grades and high expectations from parents, as well as being happy at school, are key factors in encouraging children to go on to university, a study suggests.

Researchers in Croatia found these influences were more important than class size, school, average grades at the school or the wealth of an area.

And they say this suggests schemes to raise aspirations should be targeted at an individual rather than school level.

The study covered over 1,000 pupils.

19/10/21Further strikes threatened at universities this term

Students could face more strike action at universities this term after the academics' union opened a ballot over pay, pensions and conditions. University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said the UK's flagship university sector was built on the "exploitation of staff". They had experienced a decade of pension cuts, collapsing pay and insecure contracts, she said. University employers said the prospect of disruption was "disappointing".

01/10/21What changes are being made to GCSEs and A-levels next year?

Department for Education says 2022 will be a ‘transition year’

14/09/21Covid: Single jab recommended for 12 to 15-year-olds by UK's top doctors

Healthy children aged 12 to 15 should be offered one dose of a Covid vaccine, the UK's chief medical officers say.

29/06/21Covid: School isolation rules could end in autumn

The Covid control system in England's schools, where groups of pupils have to self-isolate if one tests positive, could be scrapped in the autumn.

26/05/21DfE had no plan for dealing with a pandemic, says critical report by MPs

Public accounts committee also said a failure to set standards for remote learning led to ‘unequal experiences’