Private schools pupils 'two years ahead by age 16'

Pupils attending private schools are two years ahead of state-educated children by the time they are 16, new research suggests.

A private education helps teenagers achieve GCSE results roughly two thirds of a grade higher in each subject, even after taking into account higher academic ability and family background, according to academics from Durham University.

Private school pupils were ahead of children attending state schools at ages four, eight, 10 and 16, the study found.

The research, commissioned by the Independent Schools Council, found the “private school effect” in all subjects, with the biggest differences shown in French, history and geography.

Researchers analysed the differences in achievements between state and private school pupils, taking their prior attainment, family background and gender into account.

The gaps were smaller in chemistry, physics and biology.

Before taking into account pupil’s backgrounds, those at independent schools achieved average GCSE results that were two grades higher per subject.