Attending a university summer school can significantly improve secondary school pupils’ higher education prospects, a study published last week suggested.

Research commissioned by education charity the Sutton Trust found that 84 per cent of pupils who attended a summer school went to university, compared with 76 per cent of those who applied to attend a summer school but did not get a place.

The Sutton Trust’s schemes are open to bright pupils who attend secondary schools that have low progression rates to university and where results are below national averages.

BACKGROUND OF PUPILS WHO ATTEND SUTTON TRUST SUMMER SCHOOLS

99.2% achieved five A*-A GCSEs

91.8% have parents who are non-graduates

68.9% received the education maintenance allowance

75.9% attended a low-performing school.