Stats on states
New statistics have revealed that of the top 30 state sector schools sending pupils to Oxbridge only three are comprehensive schools, with the rest being either grammar schools or sixth-form colleges.
The results highlight the continuing inequalities in applications from comprehensive schools even though, on average, a comprehensive school pupil will get better results at university than an independent school student with the same A-level grades.
In an effort to redress the balance Oxford is to receive £2 million in extra funding to be used to increase the proportion of all state school applicants.
Officials at the university were quick to point out that any strategy would not use the money to favour financially disadvantaged schools and that no quotas of state school students would be set.
18th Oct 2001