Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Dearing (Crossbench). It was answered by Lord Adonis (Labour) on Thursday, 5 July 2007.

Universities: Admissions

Question: What is their response to the finding that children born in August are 20 per cent less likely to go to university than those born in September.

Answer: My Lords, evidence suggests that the lower propensity to enter higher education of August-born children reflects their lower attainment in the compulsory school years. Schools may admit children at age four or five, but younger children who remain longer in nursery provision will benefit from the same early years foundation stage as their counterparts in school. This issue is complex, and we are undertaking further research, on which I expect to report in October.

Secondary information