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Heads attack Mandelson over ‘sinister’ Oxbridge entry policy targets
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent23 Nov 2009
Lord Mandelson faced a backlash today from some of Britain's leading schools over his “sinister” plan to force Oxford and Cambridge to take more working-class pupils.
The Business Secretary has ordered “remedial action” to widen access to elite universities.
He backed admissions tutors who lower entry requirements for disadvantaged students by two or more A-level grades and ordered new targets to be drawn up to press universities to do more.
But the heads of leading state and private schools told the Standard the “dangerous” plan threatened to penalise teenagers who do well in exams.
Martin Stephen, High Master of the independent St Paul's School in Barnes, said that the proposal risked “punishing children who have done well. This is potentially one of the most dangerous pronouncements I have heard — ever.”
Ordering universities to discriminate in favour of working-class students “is like ordering doctors to improve the health figures by saying that patients are not ill”, he added
Andrew Grant, chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference of 250 elite private schools, said the proposal looked “sinister”.
He added: “There is a danger that, if Lord Mandelson exerts political and financial pressure to bring about these changes, he will subvert the excellence of our universities. We are all in favour of discovering talent, but the talent has to be there.”
John Marincowitz, headmaster of Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet, one of the best state grammars in England, criticised the Government's “social engineering”. He said: “The problem isn't with university admissions. The problem is with the standards of secondary education. That is what needs to be addressed.
Universities should be left to get on with their jobs.”
Bernice McCabe, headmistress of North London Collegiate School, said Oxford and Cambridge “want the brightest students and they have their own ways of identifying who is brightest. They look for potential.
“I do not think at all that it is in the interests of our world class institutions to lower the bar.” Schools should educate children from disadvantaged backgrounds well enough to be offered places at Oxford and Cambridge, rather than “watering down” university standards, she added.
Lord Mandelson has said that teen-agers applying to university should not be “disadvantaged or penalised” on the basis of their family or school backgrounds. “Simple assessment based on A-level results might exclude them,” he added.
He has said that it was right that bright students with the talent to attend the likes of Oxford and Cambridge should be given “a fair chance”.
The Government's admissions watchdog aims to work with universities to set them targets for taking more disadvantaged students.
Reader views (5)
More evidence that some people don't live in the real world. In that real world, more A levels are taken in Further Education Colleges and in Sixth Form Colleges than in Schools. Sitting A levels in the same institution as GCSEs is the real minority experience.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON, 23/11/2009 23:25
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No doubt the 'Good Lord' will shortly try to inflict more 'special quotas/interests' on the elite establishments before he departs. Education or ability not being a requirement only people with special needs/minority interests/deviates being the new pre-requisites. It measures up vey well to having an ex-CND official becoming a 'leading light' in the EU. Perish the thought that she may even have access to NATO military secrets !!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 23/11/2009 11:24
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Oh dear. I thought the whole idea of places like Oxford and Cambridge universities was to promote excellence regardless of background through merit, not political correctness.
What's next entry into the house of lords based on skin colour, or ethnic background regardless of whether the candidate has the ability to run a bath let alone a country. Oh. Now I remember that is exactly what we have.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 23/11/2009 09:56
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Just pointless electioneering, it is all just talk. The lizard knows it will never happen as neither he nor his slimy corrupt party will have an opportunity to destroy anything else after a few of months.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 23/11/2009 09:30
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Jesus, I remember this, spot on 20 years ago in my country... After communism the targets for working class children and those of party members were scrapped. Guys, I suggest you set up targets of at least 50 percent Labour Party members' children quota.
- Q, Prague, 23/11/2009 08:48
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