Universities should nurture pupils from primary school

To help widen access, universities must also give priority to pupils achieving, as from underperforming schools, says education charity CEO CREDIT: ANDREW FOX/ALAMY

Higher education institutions should focus on developing talent from a young age in order to encourage more children from disadvantaged backgrounds into university, an education expert has claimed.

Admissions tutors should also take into account a student's background when reviewing applications, as an A* in physics from an underperforming school is "worth more" than an A* in physics from a top private school, he said.