Private school pupils are a third more likely to get into Cambridge if they move to a state sixth form.
Students who stayed at private schools for GCSEs and A-levels had an acceptance rate of 19 per cent last year, figures show.
But those who moved from a fee-paying school to a grammar school or sixth form college had a higher rate of 25 per cent. It has sparked warnings that parents will try and cheat the system by switching schools in the hopes of getting into a top university.
Iain Mansfield, head of education at Policy Exchange, said the data suggests that universities are discriminating against private school pupils.
‘This demonstrates why universities should be selecting on ability, not discriminating based on a child’s background,’ he told The Daily Telegraph. If necessary, Ucas should move to background-blind admissions to ensure that every child is treated fairly.’
