Those at a private school are twice as likely to have been encouraged to apply to a Russell Group university compared to state school students.
A new report from social mobility group Zero Gravity, has found that there's far more than meets the eye in the difference between state and private schools.
After an interactive art piece hinting at the report's findings in Leeds last week, the report is finally ready to go public.
Mind The Education Gap was installed on Lands Lane in Leeds city centre last week. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The study has found that, "in line with popular belief, the power of networks often starts at home", finding that almost two thirds of students from middle class backgrounds (64%) believe their family has the knowledge to assist them with their university application, whereas 43% of those from working class backgrounds had the same opinion.
One important finding is the knowledge to help with a university application gap narrows to 8% when comparing state educated with private school students, which the reports explains as a suggestion "that the affluence of family members is more important in driving perceptions of direct family support than school type".
The study also found that networking was significantly different, depending on what school students attended. Compared to state school students, private school students are:
More than twice as likely to know an accountant (7% v 16%)
Twice as likely to know a doctor (13% v 25%)
Four times as likely to know a lawyer (8% v 36%)
Seven times as likely to know a banker (2% v 14%)
Seven times as likely to know a politician (2% v 14%)
Students at private schools are also 24% more likely to imagine themselves attending a Russell Group university and 59% of state educated students worry they wouldn’t have the same economic support as others at university, compared to 6% of privately educated pupils, according to the Zero Gravity report.
Joe Seddon, Founder and CEO of Zero Gravity issued the report after being inspired by his own experience of transitioning from a state school to applying and attending the University of Oxford.
"It may surprise some fee-paying parents that the level of in-school support with university applications reported by state school pupils is mostly in line with that received at private schools (see below). Beyond a handful of aberrations, state school pupils are receiving on average no less contact time than their fee-paying peers. " - Zero Gap Report
Determined to ensure social mobility doesn't reflect on other students, Joe founded Zero Gravity, a mentoring platform that has aided over 3000 students from low-income backgrounds in their university application process and beyond, stating: "we’re now mentoring these students into the UK’s leading graduate employers across finance, law, professional services, and technology - ensuring our members are defined by their potential, not by a postcode lottery."
After conducting its own report, the company can reveal that access to a professional network is a strong predictor of a student’s likelihood to apply and win a place at elite universities.
"Talent is spread evenly, but opportunity is not." Joe explains in the Foreword of the report.
"This fact of life is so embarrassingly obvious that it often goes unsaid. However, things don’t have to be this way. Western societies have evolved dramatically over the past two centuries to spread opportunities more widely and open access to elite institutions."
The study concludes that "until access to a professional network is no longer determined by birth, geography or education, the link between background and opportunity will not be broken [...] but the way things are is not the way things have to be."
Zero Gravity is just one example of a social-led enterprise that's striving to close the gap of networking, knowledge and expectation between state and private schools.
So far this year, 78% of Zero Gravity students have won a place at their first-choice university, so that "both talent and opportunity can be evenly spread."
The much-loved North Leeds Food Festival is back for 2026, and its spring return marks a very special anniversary.
We're getting hungry just thinking about it.
Taking place in less than a fortnight, North Leeds Food Fest marks its 10th birthday early next month, with this year's programme set to be one of the biggest yet.
We're lucky enough to see a lot of wonderful things within Roundhay Park every single year, but this might just be one of our absolute favourites.
Not to speak for all of you, but we're sure plenty of West Yorkshire would agree.
Held on the expansive Soldiers' Field section of the stunning outdoor space, more than a full decade on from the very first iteration of the festival, punters can expect free-flowing drinks, music rolling across the park, and LOTS of food to be enjoyed.
Both dog and family-friendly, too, it's already shaping up to be one of the best fun-for-all-ages weekends of the entire year.
Writing in a teaser on socials, the organisers said: "We’ve been working away behind the scenes to bring a fresh look and feel for 2026, so you can expect some surprises for our big birthday."
Consider our interest piqued and our tummies already rumbling...
The same spotlights will be shining on native independents serving up some of the region's best street food, and you can expect some top-notch drinks from Leeds locals, too.
It's pretty hard to believe it's been 10 whole years since this first started and how far it's come. Here's a longer look at how the last edition went down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqSxSj-dQsA&t=2s
Some of the indie enjoyment being teased includes wood-fired pizza, crispy fried chicken, fresh cocktails and a full 'Ale House' pouring from start to finish, as well as "vibrant curries and desserts worth saving space for".
There'll also be artisan markets, a live cookery theatre hosted by Yorkshire chef, consultant and Great British Menu star, Stephanie Moon, lots of live tunes, a whole host of kids' activities, stand-up comedy and tonnes more.
Scheduled for Saturday, 9 May 2026 from 10am and wrapping up on the following (10 May) around 7pm, the doors will be open from 10am on the first day, so you'd better make the most of the celebrations.
Claire’s shutting down all standalone shops in UK and Ireland
Danny Jones
In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Sophie Smith -
11th October 2022 
