Warning of middle-class bias among universities

Universities Secretary John Denham demanded more open admission policies to allay fears that young people from poorer backgrounds are being unfairly rejected.

Speaking at a conference at Warwick University, he said: "On the one hand, universities that try to take a student's individual background into account are liable to be accused of political correctness and social engineering.

"On the other, there are... people prepared to take the fact of a disproportionate number of students from more privileged backgrounds... as evidence of snobbery and social bias on the part of admissions staff.

"While there is no evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with most admissions, ultimately the debate is corrosive of public confidence in the system."

But shadow universities secretary David Willetts accused the Government of seeking to "refight the old class war", rather than focusing on helping more people from disadvantaged backgrounds study at university.

He argued that poorer students were not being discriminated against, but that barriers such as a lack of good career advice, and family members not previously attending higher education could make it feel like it was "not for them".

Mr Willetts said an admissions code would be a "terrible mistake", tying up universities in red tape.