Laura Loves The OxStu
A DEBATE AT the Oxford Union on Tuesday night engaged a subject close to everyone's heart. The proposition debated was, "This house believes that the Oxbridge admissions system is biased against comprehensive schools". The debating chamber was fully packed, for this highly emotive issue, with many people being turned away.
Speakers for the motion included the headmaster of Laura Spence's Tyneside state school, Dr Paul Kelley. Debating against the motion was the President of Magdalen College, Anthony Smith.
The occasion allowed the main players in this recent highly charged political issue to air their opinions in an objective setting, for the first time, without sensationalist media intervention.
The debate encompased surprisingly balanced arguments from both sides of the fence, including lots of bizarre statistics. In a very diplomatic speech for the oppostion, Anthony Smith argued that the main problems preventing state school students applying to Oxford were sociological rather than due to any bias in the University's admissions procedure. Dr Kelley appeared apologetic, regretting any offence he had caused to Oxford University, in relation to the Laura Spence affair.
The case for the opposition was opened by Stephen Hickey, of St Peter's College, who also made clear that the main reason for a bias in the ratio of private to state school admission arose from a lack of applications from state school students. Although often swaying from the subject of the fairness of the Oxford admissions procedure itself, the general consensus of the house seemed to be in opposition to the proposition.
23rd Nov 2000