UK Immigration: GCSE High-Scoring Migrant Students Responsible for London Schools Success

Today, Professor Simon Burgess, of the Centre for Market and Public Organisation at Bristol published a report which revealed that London’s diverse ethnic population explains the success of its schools. Furthermore, the report has claimed that it may not necessarily be down to ethnicity as it is more to do with  recent migration in the UK. as the two do not always go hand in hand. 

Professor Simon Burgess: London Effect is its Attraction to Migrants and those Aspiring to a Better Life

The Study focused on London and the reasoning behind schools in the Capital outperforming the rest of the UK. Typically, Urban areas are often associated with poor educational standards. But the report has revealed that the ‘London Effect’ is strongest for considerably poor students living in deprived areas. The ‘London Effect’ has shown that students in London schools score about eight GCSE grade points higher than those in the rest of England. For example, this means achieving eight Cs rather than eight Ds, or eight As rather than eight Bs.

The study looked at 10  ten Census ethnic groups: Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Black African, Black Caribbean, Chinese, Mixed, White British, Other White, and Other. It found:

  • White British pupils have the lowest progress measure in both London and the rest of England;
  • Chinese students and Black African students have the highest progress in the rest of England;
  • Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani students also have the highest progression rate.

Mr Burgess stated:

“London simply has a higher fraction of high-scoring pupils. This is not by chance of course; a key part of the London effect is its attraction to migrants and those aspiring to a better life. More speculatively, because of a more integrated school system and because of a larger population of non-White British pupils, more white British pupils have the opportunity for interactions in school with higher-scoring ethnic minority pupils than those outside the capital do. This potential for peer effect spill-overs may cause higher pupil progress.”

Decline in the Number of Higher Education International Students cost the UK Economy £725m

Despite the success of GCSE migrant students, there is a decline in the number of international students coming to the UK for a higher education. For instance, the number of Indian students coming to the UK to study declined by 15%. This decline has caused the Universities Minister Greg Clark to travel to India with the aim of selling the UK as a desirable destination to study. According to the Home Office statistics:

  • In the year ending March 2014, Non-EU long-term immigration for study fell by six per cent to 124,000;
  • During the same period Tier 4 Student visas granted to Pakistani national fell by 35% (2,511) and for Indian nationals it fell by 12% (1,711).

The reason for the decline in the number on non-EU students choosing the UK to study is down to the restrictions of the Immigration Rules. According  to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills international students contribute over £7.9 billion per year to the UK economy and education sector. A drop in the number of international student in the UK last year from 239, 000 to 197,000 was estimated to have cost the UK economy £725m.

Successful UK Tier 4 Student Visa Applications & Appeals

Our team of experienced and professionally qualified immigration solicitors and barristers will be able to guide you through the process of making a student visa application step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of law.

We also undertake a great deal of appeal work before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and have a successful track record of successful results for our clients. We have the experience and the knowledge required to take your case forward successfully. If you have had a student visa refused, contact us to discuss your case so that we can provide you with a case assessment.

Call Now Button search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close