Oxford Not So Elitist
AS THE 2001 statistics on Oxford admissions arrived, there was good news for those promoting greater access for the state sector. The largest ever proportion, 55% of places, went to state school applicants. The ratio of applications to acceptances was equal for both the state and private sectors, suggesting that there is no bias towards either system in the selections procedure.
These figures come at the same time as the announcement that this year, for the first time ever, there are more state than privately educated students in Oxford. The proportion, 51%, remained the lowest in the country, however.
John Craig, OUSU Vice-President for Access and Academic Affiars, welcomed the figures, but stated that it would "not be acceptable for the University to sit back", particularly as 67% of students gaining 3As at A-level remain in state schools. He also emphasised, however, that this years figures indicate that the disparity is not an issue of Oxford elitism but "a national issue about the cost of education" and that the best means by which to address it would be by reintroduction of the grant.
New tables published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), ranked Universities according to the percentage of state school students admitted, in comparison to the proportion which should be admitted, given the average grade requirement of the institution.
Whilst Oxford fell 16% short of it's target, it was not the worst offender. St. Andrews fell 18% short of it's 77% target, and UCL missed its goal of 75% by 17%. Exeter, Reading and Southampton were also criticised for failing to admit enough students from poor backgrounds.
Former polytechnics were not immune from castigation, however. Oxford Brookes was judged to be as elitist as Oxford, missing it's state-school benchmark of 88% by 16%. Brookes responded by claiming that the effects of a widening participation scheme launched in 1999 would take time to have an impact on the statistics. 51% of Brookes students come from within the affluent 50-mile radius.
Research also shows, however, that the universities with the highest proportion of state entrants also have the highest drop-out rate. The University of North London has 96% of state school students, but 41% fail to finish their course. It is likely that this means that the government will be unable to reach its target of 50% of under-30s in higher education by 2010.
10th Jan 2002