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Minister: Oxford is not trying to widen access
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent19 Sep 2008
The war of words between Britain's elite universities and the Government escalated today as Cabinet minister John Denham launched an astonishing attack on Oxford.
In a letter to the Standard, the Universities Secretary suggested the ancient institution was not trying hard enough to attract students from poor backgrounds.
He said it was "hard to believe" that universities already offer places to all the brightest teenagers in the country and accused Oxford of setting its sights "too low". Mr Denham's remarks came in response to Oxford's warning that it cannot take many more working class students without lowering academic standards. The minister has already criticised Cambridge over the issue of "social justice".
Oxford admissions director Mike Nicholson told the Standard this week that there was "a finite pool" of candidates each year qualified to win places.
But in his letter today, Mr Denham said: "If we believe that there is a 'finite pool' of students then we are setting our sights too low.
"It is the responsibility of all universities to raise aspirations and ensure that all those in society that have it in them to go to the most selective universities strive for that goal."
The minister said he would not "impose" admissions policies on universities. But he continued: "It's hard to believe that the current intake across higher education reflects a system that reaches all of our most talented young people."
Speaking to the Standard on Wednesday, Mr Nicholson argued that there were "limitations" to what Oxford could do to attract more candidates from state schools and poor communities.
"We are fairly clear that there is at the moment a finite pool that we can draw upon," he said.
Only about 28,000 teenagers score three A-grades in their A-levels each year. Oxford receives applications from about 11,000 for 3,000 places. A similar number again apply to Cambridge each year, he said.
This leaves only a few thousand high achievers who do not apply to either university - and many of them will want to study courses such as dentistry that are not taught at Oxbridge.
Mr Nicholson stressed that Oxford was working hard to encourage more applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, which Mr Denham welcomed.
The minister's comments followed a heated exchange with Cambridge last week, when he attacked Cambridge vice-chancellor Alison Richard for criticising government "meddling" in university affairs.
He dismissed her argument that universities exist to educate and conduct research, not as "engines for promoting social justice".
Reader views (6)
It's not Oxford's job to dumb down in order to be politically correct, but it is the government's job to ensure that intelligent working class kids can get an education that allows them to meet Oxford's entry criteria.
- Liz, London, 19/09/2008 16:02
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The government can unfortunately call the tune for UK universities because it is far and away their largest funder. The only way to minimise political interference in higher education is for any UK university that can to go private, as many of the top US universities have done. But that means trying much harder than most UK universities do to build up large endowments. University fund-raising in the UK is still pitiful compared with North America.
- Colin Howson, Toronto, Canada, 19/09/2008 15:45
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Oxford and cambridge will admit anyone who reaches their high standards. If few from state schools do so, that is not the universities' fault. It is the fault of the government for making it all but impossible for a bright student to receive a good education in a state school, where the staff are forced to "teach by numbers" to an anti-intellectual "one size fits all" curriculum.
We don't think it odd that less than 1% of the population are qualified to train as olympic athletes, and we don't insist that they run with their hands tied behind their backs to make it easier for others to compete. But this is exactly what the government does do to really bright children in state schools!
- Nigel, London, 19/09/2008 15:23
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This ‘debate' is getting ridiculous now. Oxbridge aim to attract the brightest pupils, it's how they keep their reputation for excellence. Even if a pupil get’s straight As at A-Level it doesn’t automatically mean they are right for Oxford or Cambridge.
Candidates are interviewed and it is that coupled with their results that allow them access. Of course private schools are going to churn out some of the smartest students as they are already highly selective and frankly are paid to be so! A student’s grades depend on what board of exam they take and how much their school has ‘helped’ them to achieve their grades. Positive discrimination would NOT help at all, as students would then feel they have achieved their place through this means rather than their own merits. Likewise, why should a student from a more affluent background be turned away? It shouldn’t be up to Oxford to attract the students - it should be up to the schools to advise their pupils accordingly – if a child is bright enough to apply, then the school should help them. Oxbridge should continue to strive to take the best of the best and keep their standards and results high!
- Rj, London, 19/09/2008 14:59
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John Denham (who incidentally was in my school class) is like other Labour 'dinosaurs' before him. He brings mediocrity to our top universities by insisting they social engineer the intake of state school children. Someone ought to tell him that in China & India, two countries that pose the greatest economic threat to our living standards, competition and selection for good education begins before the child is born! And is it not ironic our top universities will take the best foreign academic students through intense selection, and then might have to place them alongside less qualified ones because they happen to sit for ‘A’ levels in a deprived area that subjectively showed potential
- Arun Ahluwalia, London, United Kingdom, 19/09/2008 14:23
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Stand your ground Oxford! People should aspire to greatness, not be spoon fed it.
- Vision Aforethought, Oxford, 19/09/2008 13:17
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