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I don't exactly find this to be surprising news. Agree with the comments of someone earlier that the University that someone goes to is likely to be more relevant (and therefore I guess that the students from Northern non-selective schools are not going to those Universities.) From my own experience (very poor performing comprehensive in the Midlands) getting into an excellent University was the springboard for the rest of my career. Top international firms included. I have repeatedly questioned Oxbridge state pupil numbers, and have suggested that these should be divided into those from selective and non-selective state schools to see whether they are truly reaching out. I think the problems for pupils in poor performing schools (whether in the North or not) are that teaching standards may not be sufficiently good, there is not an ethos of wanting people to do well (and you can become a social outcast for trying to) and information about where to go to University isn't as good as it should be. Remember that most recruiters will have gone to University 30 years earlier and won't be interested in whether a University gets the best student satisfaction rating. It takes a long while for perceptions to change which is why Russell Group still matters. I was the first in my family to go to University and was lucky enough to have one inspirational teacher, and supportive parents, who encouraged me. I also got a full grant - not sure I would have been brave enough to take on the necessary amount of student debt now.