Universities to work together

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It will aim to encourage students who are predicted to get top A-level grades to think about applying to the country's top universities, regardless of their background.

Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, King's College London, Leeds, Leicester, Newcastle, Southampton and Warwick have all signed up for the initiative.

Mr Denham, who is expected to announce the initiative at Labour's conference in Manchester, said: "I have always been clear that we must allow the most talented and hard working of our young people to achieve their full potential, irrespective of what kind of social background they came from, or the school they went to.

"This does not mean imposing admissions policies on universities. But it does mean universities recognising their full responsibilities in helping to seek out and develop the best of talents, wherever they are in our society."

Professor Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University, said the initiative is aimed at the 3,000 or so students from the state school sector who get good A-level results but do not apply to the most selective universities.

Mr Smith said: "What this is about is universities as a group trying to work together to recognise each other's compact schemes."

Compact schemes are initiatives in which universities work with schools to provide master classes, summer schools or visits for students.

Universities can take into consideration a student's performance on their taster sessions, interviews or set work when considering to offer a place.