Industry News
Rammell concerned about admissions
Posted on 13th February 2008
Pupils from private schools and middle class families continue to dominate admissions at the country's leading universities, it has been claimed.
Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, said that although a third of students at many of the UK's universities come from deprived backgrounds, the proportion at the top research-led institutions is far lower.
Only one in five students at Russell Group universities come from a low-income group and the figure falls to one in ten at Oxford and Cambridge, according to Mr Rammell.
The minister acknowledged that the government and schools have to work hard if the social make-up of university entrants is to change, but insisted leading universities have to play their part as well.
He added: "The talent of all our people deserves to be unlocked."
Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, recently suggested that the combination of A-level subjects chosen by pupils at some state schools is placing them at a disadvantage when it comes to securing places on a good degree course.