Earnings 'hit by school advice'

TEENAGERS in state schools could miss out on salaries of more than £90,000 because teachers fail to give them good advice when applying to university, according to a new report.

The Sutton Trust study says that half of state school pupils believe there is no difference in earnings between graduates from different universities, compared with a third of privately-educated pupils.

But research suggests that four times as many graduates from elite universities, such as Edinburgh, earn over £90,000 per year compared with graduates from former polytechnics.

The charity has called for teenagers to be given better advice on the implications of university choice on their future salaries.

However, Tina Woolnough, Edinburgh pressure group Parents in Partnership, said that it was "not appropriate" for teachers and careers advisors to be giving advice based on future salaries.

She said: "People should be making decisions based on their abilities, interests and the kinds of life choices they want to make."