Private school applicants disadvantaged, study says
OXFORD ACTIVELY discriminates against independent school pupils, according to new research by the University.
The research says sixth form students from private schools have less chance of gaining a conditional offer than state school pupils with the same GCSE results.
The report analyses the results of 4,539 applicants to 11 colleges, finding applicants from independent schools with the same GCSE scores as state-school counterparts had less chance of gaining a conditional offer.
The report, commissioned by the Admissions Executive, the organisation which governs University admission policy, reads: "Given independent school applicants' superior performance at GCSE, an admissions system based on GCSE attainment would lead to an even higher acceptance rate for independent school applicants than we observed."
However, the research did not take into account other factors affecting admission which has led to criticism by the University.
A spokesperson told The Oxford Student: "There is no systematic bias against independent school candidates in the admissions process.
"This working paper is an interim report and does not represent the final findings of the study.
"If there were found to be a bias in the admissions process, the University would see this as a problem and take immediate steps to eliminate that bias."
Professor Anthony Heath, the author of the report, intends to continue his investigations by analysing the finals results of the sample group.
Student Union vice president for Access and Academic Affairs Linsey Cole said she is in favour of further research.
"The research does not go far enough - gaining a place at Oxford involves much more than good GCSE scores."
The government has told Oxford to increase its state school intake to 77 per cent from its current level of 48 per cent.
13th Jan 2005