The University of Cambridge 2016-18 Sutton Scholars Cohort: GCSE Outcomes
10 October 2022
This research by NFER, for the Sutton Trust, explores whether a cohort of highly-able but socially-disadvantaged students in Years 9 and 10 (aged 13-15), who completed the Sutton Scholars widening participation programme at the University of Cambridge during 2016-18, went on to achieve GCSE grades in 2019 that would place them on a pathway that will allow them to apply for selective universities in the future. It compares the probability of the Sutton Scholars cohort achieving at least 5 grades 5-9 at GCSE compared with a matched comparison group of non-participating students, using GCSE data obtained from the National Pupil Database.
Key Findings
- The student cohort of the University of Cambridge’s 2016-18 Sutton Scholars programme had a significantly higher probability of achieving at least 5 grades 5-9 at GCSE compared with the matched comparison group of students who had similar characteristics.
- This indicates that the students who participated in the University of Cambridge’s 2016-18 Sutton Scholars programme were likely to achieve the GCSE grades that place them on a pathway that will allow them to apply for selective universities in the future.
- Note that there might have been other background contextual factors that contributed to the students’ academic development and progress, other than participation in the programme.