This decrease in the earnings gap occurred over the same period when the proportion of the UK 22-64 population with degree qualification doubled, rising from 12% to 25%.

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Of 1, 500 quangocrats sampled, 74% were men, 55% were aged 45-59, 80% had a degree or professional qualification and 3% were non-white (compared with 5% of the public).

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Almost one in four (23.1%) maths teachers - around 7, 500 - do not have a relevant degree-level qualification, along with a fifth (20.1%) of English teachers - around 7, 300 in total.

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Although more than half of Harvard undergraduates end up in law, medicine or business, future doctors and lawyers must study a non-specialist liberal-arts degree before embarking on a professional qualification.

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However, the report acknowledges that the UK degree is a "robust, internationally recognised qualification".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Degree grades 'in need of update'