Fewer Oxford University graduates are choosing teaching as a career than Students from almost any other university.

It has long been known that a lower proportion of Oxford graduates enter teaching than students from redbrick and new universities.

But research carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows the gap widening, suggesting Government efforts to attract more Oxbridge graduates into the profession are not working.

Only two per cent of Oxford graduates chose teaching as a career, compared with 3.7 per cent nationwide. Some redbrick universities see up to eight per cent of graduates moving into teaching.

The findings come at a time of renewed Government efforts to boost teacher recruitment.

Dr Wendy Piatt, an IPPR research fellow in higher education, said: "It would certainly seem that alternative careers would be more encouraged and given a higher profile, particularly high-flying careers such as management consultancy, PR or advertising."

Earlier this month, the Government unveiled a £44m campaign to crack the recruitment crisis at many secondary schools. The initiative will see £445,000 pumped into Oxfordshire schools this year, with those schools experiencing the most difficulty attracting teachers receiving an extra £44,000.

The president of Oxford University Student Union, Ruth Hunt, said: "There are less people going into teaching than other things. You could recruit far more teachers by increasing funding for training. If I knew I could survive and live somewhere and start paying off my debt, I'd go into teaching like a shot."

She added: "Career advisers are very good and try to provide career advice that suits you. I doubt anybody is being steered away from teaching. Students just think £6,000 to train is less than they need."

No-one at Oxford University was prepared to comment on the findings.