A new report claims to highlight regional differences in the proportion of pupils studying A Levels in state schools.

Glass Ceilings published by the New Schools Network - a charity that promotes the creation of free schools - analysed A Level provision across the country and claims that the lack of access to A Levels in some areas of England blocks the route to higher education and the high-skills jobs market for many 16 year olds.

Findings include:

• Low rates of A Level participation are evident in urban, coastal and rural areas including Rutland, Portsmouth, Barnsley, Salford and Lambeth. Some areas are at risk of losing A Level provision.
• Access to local high-quality provision is scarce, and in some places non-existent, with no provision rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. 
• Poor patterns of provision tend to be found in the most deprived areas of the country. 
• New, high quality provision is needed at 16-19, but also at secondary school level, especially in the most deprived areas.