Research published by the Sutton Trust has revealed that top-selling musicians are six times more likely than the public to have attended private schools (43% versus 7%). And BAFTA-nominated actors are five times more likely to have done so (35% versus 7%).

Privately educated students represent over half of music students at the most prestigious conservatoires and 43% of top classical musicians attended an independent school.

The Royal Academy of Music (60%), Royal College of Music (56%), Durham (48%), Kings College London (46%) and Bath (42%) all have high proportions of privately educated students studying creative subjects. All of these institutions have higher proportions of privately educated creative students than Oxbridge (32%).

Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, said: “It’s a tragedy that young people from working class backgrounds are the least likely to study creative arts degrees, or break into the creative professions. These sectors bear the hallmarks of being elitist – those from upper-middle-class backgrounds, and the privately-educated are significantly over-represented.

“Britain’s creative sector is admired around the world, but no child should be held back from reaching their full potential, or from pursuing their interests and dream career, due to their socioeconomic background. It’s essential that action is taken to ensure access to high-quality creative education in schools, and to tackle financial barriers to accessing creative courses and workplace opportunities.”