How ‘soft bigotry’ of teachers’ low expectations is stopping poor pupils going to university

A report warns that quality advice in schools on academic routes is ‘desperately scarce’, writes Eleanor Busby

The report says 12.3 per cent of the most disadvantaged pupils in England access full-time higher education at the age of 19 (Getty)

Children from poor backgrounds are being denied places at top universities by the “soft bigotry of low expectations” among teachers, according to a report.

Some schools are failing to encourage pupils from deprived backgrounds to apply to the most selective universities as they do not think they will cope, a think tank has suggested.

The report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) says 12.3 per cent of the most disadvantaged pupils in England access full-time higher education at the age of 19.