Oxbridge = Inaccessible to most students?

Oxbridge really acts as a shorthand in the public debate for the concept of 'the better universities'. It's an easy target to accuse of unjustified privilege, etc, despite in some important ways being less privileged in access terms now than some of the 'lesser' members of the Russell Group. The attack dogs ought to be widening their nets, to mix metaphors. For politicians however, slapping down the Warwicks and the Durhams and the Bristols would in no way substitute for the kudos of having a bash at Ox & Cambs. "Would sir like a side dish of outdated hate with that?"

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Tried to give you an upvote and am met yet again with : "please rate some other members before rating this member again".

Last time I successfully upvoted you was two days ago.

Has OFFA dictated quotas for the TSR too?

I receive approx 1 rep point for every ~5 attempts. I like to think this makes me 'elite' but not as elite as the folks over at the 11-levels of the stratosphere.

I receive approx 1 rep point for every ~5 attempts. I like to think this makes me 'elite' but not as elite as the folks over at the 11-levels of the stratosphere.

Wut?!

This to me suggests more of the access courses could be the answer. Why not give the individual the chance to perform at the equivalent of A* grades during a foundation year, especially with the support of highly reputable academics and all the college support systems. Also allows people to try out the university and try to get passed any preconceived ideas about how diverse/undiverse it is, and potentially feel like they could integrate without having to make a three year commitment.

I'm quite happy to have a in depth stats conversation. You just need to explain it to me in plain English. Not all of us are as clued up on these things.

Wut?!

"I receive approx 1 rep point for every ~5 attempts."

Well, that's really fair

I hear they had the same problem voting in Catalonia recently.

Really hope it works! It might make other traditional universities who have avoided these programmes also take note and consider it, as well as other colleges.

Warwick has one, with some funding. It will be a much bigger cohort than LMH though.

UCL, St Andrews and KCL also have foundation year courses - universities with much lower entry requirements also frequently use them. Some universities do have a tendency to use them for international students as much as from an access perspective.

I think there could also be more information provided to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalised communities in terms of the specifics of the support provided..

Oh for goodness sakes!

Do students need to be spoonfed every single morsel? Why can't these 'people from disadvantaged backgrounds' show a bit of nous and look it up on the university websites for themselves? And if they can't find the answer then send an email? Why does Oxbridge have to spend even more £millions just to save them the effort?

I am astonished that Oxbridge spends £millions and time on 'outreach' which is basically telling students the universities exist and are happy to receive applications from them. Isn't that the job of any competent secondary school teacher?

There is unfairness in the Oxbridge process, but it is to be found in the lack of independent scrutiny and public accountability in the admissions process not in whether Oxbridge has spent enough on outreach.

Many secondary school teachers are either unencouraging, or actively discouraging, students *they* incorrectly think don't fit the Oxbridge "mould". Most outreach is trying to convince those teachers to think otherwise.

Many secondary school teachers are either unencouraging, or actively discouraging, students *they* incorrectly think don't fit the Oxbridge "mould". Most outreach is trying to convince those teachers to think otherwise.

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Many students won’t have a good teacher-student relationship, of no fault of their own.

I agree there are injustices in the Oxbridge admissions system.

It can’t be fair, for example, that some applicants to Oxbridge - just because of who they are - get special treatment.

For example, I know 100% for sure of some prospective students who because of who they know and the schools they've attended have managed to get through their personal contacts:

Whilst all other students just have to go it alone and rely on teachers at their school. How can that be fair?

That’s the kind of thing David Lammy should be jumping up and down about.

I agree there are injustices in the Oxbridge admissions system.

It can’t be fair, for example, that some applicants to Oxbridge - just because of who they are - get special treatment.

For example, I know 100% for sure of some prospective students who because of who they know and the schools they've attended have managed to get through their personal contacts:

Whilst all other students just have to go it alone and rely on teachers at their school. How can that be fair?

That’s the kind of thing David Lammy should be jumping up and down about.