The Oxford Student
Oxford University just can't win with Charles Clarke around. On one hand, the Government's Higher Education Statistics Agency, who clearly have no idea how to run a university, come up with arbitrary 'benchmark' targets with which to batter the University into submission on accepting candidates who simply don't make the grade.
The Department for Education's solution to this problem - why, taking away a fund which finances the university's only student-led access initiative to the tune of £9,000, of course!
Target Schools is not a perfect scheme. It chose to put up its student volunteers in the Belfast Hilton Hotel last Easter, in a move which showed a spectacular error of judgement by the Student Union. Nevertheless, the scheme, like the Access Scheme, Sutton Trust activities and various open days, are supported by The Oxford Student as a method of encouraging applications from students less likely to choose Oxford.
Yes, there should be more state school students in Oxford, but that is only partly Oxford's fault. There are of course corrupt and unfair tutors who make the annual ring-round to independent schools to pick students to their liking, but this is the deplorable exception rather than the rule.
Most academics, as the commendable Michael Beloff explains on this page, are committed to getting the best students for Oxford from whatever background. They have every right to criticise the ill-founded and embarrassing targets set by a government which continues to blame and patronise Oxford University for its own mistakes in failing to address the huge flaws in state school education.
Oxford University puts a decent and commendable amount of money into access initiatives, and in a week when it faces demands from foolish local councillors to prioritise £350,000 to repair Radcliffe Square cobbles it could have done with that £9,000 from the Aspiration Fund for access initiatives. (We would much rather have a diverse student body and loose cobbles than a homogenous one on a pristine Radcliffe Square!)
Before dictating on high to a university which represents what it clearly despises - an academic élite - the Department for Education should take a look at its own hypocrisy on this issue.
Clarifications: In our interview with OUSF President Georgie Webb last week, we stated that she administrates all Oxford's British Universities' Sports Association fixtures. These are in fact administered by Mark Huddleston and Sarah Queralt. We apologise for our error.
Also: A photograph of Joan Court on page 40 last week should have been credited to The Oxford Mail. We apologise for our error.
14th Oct 2004