Top universities were today ordered to reserve more places for the poorest students as figures showed fewer than one-in-seven Oxbridge undergraduates are eligible for a full state grant.
The Governmentââ¬â¢s Office for Fair Access said the most selective institutions must be more ââ¬Åambitiousââ¬Â in attempts to create a diverse student body.
For the first time next year, they will be forced to set targets related specifically to the number of deprived candidates admitted onto courses.
In the past, universities could satisfy ââ¬Åoutreachââ¬Â requirements simply by attracting more applicants ââ¬â even if they failed to ultimately win places.
The warning came as new figures from Offa ââ¬â set up by Labour to improve access to higher education ââ¬â showed poor students were still struggling to win places at Englandââ¬â¢s top universities.
Some 12.6 per cent of Cambridge undergraduates and 14.4 per cent of those from Oxford were eligible for a full state grant ââ¬â a support package for students from families earning ã25,000 or less last year.
The Governmentââ¬â¢s Office for Fair Access said the most selective institutions must be more ââ¬Åambitiousââ¬Â in attempts to create a diverse student body.
For the first time next year, they will be forced to set targets related specifically to the number of deprived candidates admitted onto courses.
In the past, universities could satisfy ââ¬Åoutreachââ¬Â requirements simply by attracting more applicants ââ¬â even if they failed to ultimately win places.
The warning came as new figures from Offa ââ¬â set up by Labour to improve access to higher education ââ¬â showed poor students were still struggling to win places at Englandââ¬â¢s top universities.
Some 12.6 per cent of Cambridge undergraduates and 14.4 per cent of those from Oxford were eligible for a full state grant ââ¬â a support package for students from families earning ã25,000 or less last year.
Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...t-tough-targets-to-recruit-poor-students.html
Shouldn't admittance be based on academic ability?
The Governmentââ¬â¢s Office for Fair Access said the most selective institutions must be more ââ¬Åambitiousââ¬Â in attempts to create a diverse student body.
For the first time next year, they will be forced to set targets related specifically to the number of deprived candidates admitted onto courses.
In the past, universities could satisfy ââ¬Åoutreachââ¬Â requirements simply by attracting more applicants ââ¬â even if they failed to ultimately win places.
The warning came as new figures from Offa ââ¬â set up by Labour to improve access to higher education ââ¬â showed poor students were still struggling to win places at Englandââ¬â¢s top universities.
Some 12.6 per cent of Cambridge undergraduates and 14.4 per cent of those from Oxford were eligible for a full state grant ââ¬â a support package for students from families earning ã25,000 or less last year.
The Governmentââ¬â¢s Office for Fair Access said the most selective institutions must be more ââ¬Åambitiousââ¬Â in attempts to create a diverse student body.
For the first time next year, they will be forced to set targets related specifically to the number of deprived candidates admitted onto courses.
In the past, universities could satisfy ââ¬Åoutreachââ¬Â requirements simply by attracting more applicants ââ¬â even if they failed to ultimately win places.
The warning came as new figures from Offa ââ¬â set up by Labour to improve access to higher education ââ¬â showed poor students were still struggling to win places at Englandââ¬â¢s top universities.
Some 12.6 per cent of Cambridge undergraduates and 14.4 per cent of those from Oxford were eligible for a full state grant ââ¬â a support package for students from families earning ã25,000 or less last year.
Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...t-tough-targets-to-recruit-poor-students.html
Shouldn't admittance be based on academic ability?
