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Two Exeter faculty take a skeptical look at the data. I'm opening this for comments from those who see mistakes in the analysis and commentary on the availalbe data.
(Thanks to Mark Couch for the pointer.)
No "mistakes" in particular, but a curiously unsatisfying string of well-hedged non sequiturs. To wit:
A complaint about sample size (though it acknowledges that a sample of 1000 is quite normal in studies like this).
Doubts that racial disparity in first-class degrees demonstrates bias, given a lack of disparity in second class degrees. (Of course, this doesn't show anything of the sort–indeed, it suggests that there is a downgrading of would-be non-white firsts to second class degrees.)
A suggestion that the equal (or better) representation of Asian students is evidence that non-Asian non-whites are treated equally. (Those Asians are non-white, after all.)
And general incredulity that there could be any hints of racism in what the authors proudly proclaim is the least racist society in the world–albeit one where racist advertisements were quite effective during the Brexit campaign.
The authors end with the suggestion that "it’s socio-economic status, not race, that accounts for the attainment gap," but they don't attempt to explain why, in this non-racist utopia, "a majority of black students come from state schools," where students tend to do worse at university.
This BBC report about the proportion of UK high school leavers going to University is somewhat relevant. I dont know how accurate it is.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-50828266
It claims:
'Among white teenagers, 38% go on to higher education, compared with 60% of black pupils and 64% of Asian.
The highest entry rate, 78%, is for Chinese youngsters.
Among black African female pupils eligible for free school meals, the rate is 67%.
But only 13% of white British male FSM pupils go on to higher education.'
Free school meals are given to those in the lowest income bracket.
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