Student choices: WHO WAS INTERVIEWED:

THE STUDENTS

Who they were - A roughly 50:50 split between girls and boys, 211 from the south of England, 186 from the north and 110 from the Midlands; 222 from social classes C2, D and E, 161 from class C1, and 124 from the professional classes, A and B.

What they were doing - 61 per cent in first year of A-Level studies or equivalent; 36 per cent in second year of A-Level studies or equivalent; 1 per cent doing re-takes; 2 per cent taking a year out.

Where they were doing it - 27 per cent in comprehensive school sixth forms; 31 per cent at a sixth form college or centre; 3 per cent at a tertiary college; 25 per cent at a further education college; 4 per cent in grammar school sixth forms; 6 per cent in independent school sixth forms

THE PARENTS

Who they were - 346 mothers and 154 fathers with children in the 16 to 18 age group. 23 per cent from social classes A and B; 34.5 per cent from social class C1; 42 per cent from social classes C2, D and E. 21 per cent have another child in higher education. 20 per cent of families had both parents who had been in higher education; 26 per cent of families had one parent who had been in higher education; 54 per cent of families had neither parent who had been in higher education. 71 per cent of parents in social classes C2, D and E were in families where neither parent had been in higher education

THE SURVEY

Based on telephone interviews with 507 students aged 16, 17 and 18 in full-time education but not yet at university or college to study above A-Level. Interviews were also conducted with 500 parents from different households with sixth form or college student children in the same age group. The survey was conducted for The Independent by Continental Research.