This document summarizes background research on education pathways after secondary school in the UK. It finds that 52% of students attend higher education institutions, with 1% at Oxford or Cambridge and another 8% at other Russell Group universities. 2% of students pursue apprenticeships. The number of students from low-income families in the UK applying for university degrees increased from 8,720 to 14,230 over six years. There are currently 440,000 students in UK apprenticeship programs. The document also asks what one item students won't be taking with them to university.