Oxford University accused of elitism

Oxford University accused of elitism

Franks Commission hears that university needs to market itself better to attract students from less privileged backgrounds

theguardian.com 23 October 2013

Oxford University was remote and cloistered to working-class people with an urge for higher education, Mr Cyril Plant, a member of the TUC education committee, told the Franks Commission yesterday.

Mr Plant said he accepted that Oxford welcomed a wide range ofstudents, but said: "You have failed because you have not propagandised. The university needs to sell itself. "A man from Blackburn Grammar School feels that to aim for Oxford is too high. He feels he wouldn't be welcomed there". It is a view shared by grammar school masters as well. "Oxford must break down the 'Oxford is too high for you, brother' feeling".

The feeling was that Oxford was more difficult to get into and that it had a ready made clientele. He was sure that if the commission's report gave emphasis to the need for propaganda, it would be the first shot in a propaganda campaign from which Oxford would benefit greatly.

Mr Wilfred Beard, chairman of the education committee, and Mr Dennis Willard, secretary of the TUC department of education, also gave evidence to the commission.

Mr Beard said that the TUC was concerned that there were boys and girls at redbrick universities who were qualified to go to Oxford but did not get there. He asked whether a person going to a particular school had a better chance of going to Oxford.

Lord Franks replied that children from old established schools - like his own Bristol Grammar School - were more likely to get in. But the colleges were "falling over backwards" to find promise in boys from other schools.

Mr Willard told Mrs J Floud, a member of the commission, that Oxford should divide applicants into quotas from different categories of schools and select from within the quotas.

Mr Frank Fisher, Warden of St Edward's School, Oxford, who giving evidence with Sir Desmond Lee on behalf of the Headmasters' Conference, agreed that an overwhelming majority of boys put Oxford or Cambridge as their first choice. But if they were offered a place at another university, some would take it rather than stay on for a third sixth form year and try for Oxford.

The two heads were in favour of the Oxford entrance scholarships and requirements. Mr Fisher said it would be "disastrous" if Oxford lowered entrance standards.

From the archive, 23 October 1964:

Oxford University accused of elitism

Franks Commission hears that university needs to market itself better to attract students from less privileged backgrounds

theguardian.com 23 October 2013

Oxford University was remote and cloistered to working-class people with an urge for higher education, Mr Cyril Plant, a member of the TUC education committee, told the Franks Commission yesterday.

Mr Plant said he accepted that Oxford welcomed a wide range ofstudents, but said: "You have failed because you have not propagandised. The university needs to sell itself. "A man from Blackburn Grammar School feels that to aim for Oxford is too high. He feels he wouldn't be welcomed there". It is a view shared by grammar school masters as well. "Oxford must break down the 'Oxford is too high for you, brother' feeling".

The feeling was that Oxford was more difficult to get into and that it had a ready made clientele. He was sure that if the commission's report gave emphasis to the need for propaganda, it would be the first shot in a propaganda campaign from which Oxford would benefit greatly.

Mr Wilfred Beard, chairman of the education committee, and Mr Dennis Willard, secretary of the TUC department of education, also gave evidence to the commission.

Mr Beard said that the TUC was concerned that there were boys and girls at redbrick universities who were qualified to go to Oxford but did not get there. He asked whether a person going to a particular school had a better chance of going to Oxford.

Lord Franks replied that children from old established schools - like his own Bristol Grammar School - were more likely to get in. But the colleges were "falling over backwards" to find promise in boys from other schools.

Mr Willard told Mrs J Floud, a member of the commission, that Oxford should divide applicants into quotas from different categories of schools and select from within the quotas.

Mr Frank Fisher, Warden of St Edward's School, Oxford, who giving evidence with Sir Desmond Lee on behalf of the Headmasters' Conference, agreed that an overwhelming majority of boys put Oxford or Cambridge as their first choice. But if they were offered a place at another university, some would take it rather than stay on for a third sixth form year and try for Oxford.

The two heads were in favour of the Oxford entrance scholarships and requirements. Mr Fisher said it would be "disastrous" if Oxford lowered entrance standards.

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