University prospects are still a thorny issue

‘If you are sending your child to an independent school because you think this somehow guarantees a place at a top-quality university, then as things stand, you may be taking a bit of a gamble,’ says Vicky Tuck, head of Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

‘Although it is clear that traditionally independent schools have had the upper hand when it comes to getting into Oxbridge, very bright children from state schools who have secured top grades without the privileges of a private education can stand out more than ever.

‘Your independent schoolchild may have to be really exceptional to aspire to the top courses — simply being an A student is no longer enough,’ she adds.

When it comes to the difficult topic of class bias in higher education, there are those, such as Dr Lee Elliot Major, research director of the Sutton Trust, which tackles educational disadvantage, who will argue that state schools are still overwhelmingly discriminated against in the university application process.

While Tuck doesn’t agree, neither does she take the opposing view that the balance of power has now shifted in favour of state school admissions, as has been argued by a very small number of universities.

What she does say, however, is that that there are still key elements of the independent system which would appear to make entry to one of the so-called ‘elite’ universities such as Bristol or the LSE that much more likely. She cites not just small class sizes and first-rate facilities, but the more ‘scholarly atmosphere’ that tends to exist in the independent sector.