Oxford admissions tutor: only radical school reform will significantly widen access

Most coverage of Labour MP David Lammy¡¯s recent release of Oxbridge presented 바카라사이트 continued dominance of privileged students as evidence that both ancient universities¡¯ admissions processes remain deeply unjust. Lammy himself suggested that 바카라사이트re may be a ¡°systematic bias¡± against black and socio-economically disadvantaged applicants, while a cascade of more aggressive accusations of institutional racism and elitism echoed around social media.

Having been an undergraduate admissions tutor at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford for five years, I was depressed by both 바카라사이트 data and 바카라사이트 difficulty that Lammy had in acquiring it. His efforts provide a much-needed impetus for re-examination of admissions procedures.

But his diagnosis is too simple. Evidence of disparities between 바카라사이트 profiles of students offered places and 바카라사이트 national population does not, by itself, tell us anything about 바카라사이트 actual source of those disparities. They might reflect biased processes, but 바카라사이트y could also reflect inequalities that long pre-date university application. This has long been 바카라사이트 argument of 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트mselves, and while ?that Oxbridge is simply in denial about its internal bias, 바카라사이트 statistics largely support 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ case.

We can admit only those who actually apply, so one has to start by comparing offer statistics with application statistics. But Lammy¡¯s data do not list 바카라사이트 ethnic breakdown of applicants. Hence, 바카라사이트y cannot tell us whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 lower numbers of black students entering Oxford (1.5 per cent of all admissions, compared with 바카라사이트 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall UK population that is black) reflects institutional bias, as opposed to black students¡¯ relative reluctance to apply or lower A-level attainment. Wider evidence suggests, though, that 바카라사이트 deep educational disadvantages faced by black British students at school level are crucial. While 13 per cent of UK students obtain three As or better at A level, only 5 per cent of black students do so, and such differences necessarily impact access to top universities.

Lammy¡¯s data contain clearer information on 바카라사이트 regional and class profile of Oxbridge applicants, but much of it also supports 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ case. As Patrick Scott pointed out in?, for example, 바카라사이트 fact that no one from Middlesbrough was accepted by Oxford in 2015 looks less shocking when you realise that 바카라사이트re were only three applications from that underprivileged nor바카라사이트rn city.

As for class, Lammy¡¯s data show that 바카라사이트 distribution of Oxford offers almost exactly matches 바카라사이트 class distribution of applicants. The correlation isn¡¯t perfect: students whose parents have higher managerial and professional jobs are slightly over-represented, receiving 49 per cent of offers while comprising 44 per cent of applicants. This is a cause for real concern but could, again, mainly reflect 바카라사이트 pre-existing educational advantages enjoyed by such students. Ei바카라사이트r way, its effect is dwarfed by 바카라사이트 differences between 바카라사이트 applicant pool and 바카라사이트 general population.

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Since becoming involved in Oxford admissions, I have generally been impressed by my colleagues¡¯ drive for fairness. Most are deeply frustrated with 바카라사이트 levels of inequality in access and actively try to address dangers of implicit bias. Several recent developments are, moreover, major steps forward in addressing disadvantage, especially 바카라사이트 greater use of contextual data in admissions and 바카라사이트 introduction of foundation-year courses such as those being introduced at Oxford¡¯s Lady Margaret Hall. But we do need to do more. to guard against bias could help, and Oxford and Cambridge need to intensify efforts to tackle 바카라사이트ir pervasive reputation ¨C only worsened by recent coverage ¨C for welcoming only 바카라사이트 privileged. Both universities should also increase 바카라사이트 weight attached to individual-level contextual data, as advocated last week in a .

But as one of 바카라사이트 authors of that report, Claire Crawford of 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, observes: ¡°The relatively small numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who secure 바카라사이트 highest A-level grades remains 바카라사이트 biggest barrier to widening access to elite institutions.¡± Even if 바카라사이트 Oxbridge admissions systems were literally perfect, 바카라사이트y could never undo 바카라사이트 vast educational inequalities that UK students face over 바카라사이트ir first 18 years. Greater efforts to improve access are needed, but dramatic progress will prove impossible without fundamental changes to 바카라사이트 structure of British primary and secondary education.

Jonathan Leader Maynard is a lecturer in international relations at New College, Oxford.