...in favour of social engineering.
What a shame.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48336059

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Loopy

Oxford abandons selection by entrenched privilege in favour of selection by ability. Shame.

The admissions lady on Radio 4 this morning made it very clear several times that the students they would admit under this scheme were those who reached the entrance requirements, but had just missed out at interview. The academic excellence remains intact. Apparently one of the colleges (St John's I think) has been trialling this scheme, and all the students have passed all their exams.

Oxbridge always used social engineering. Mike1880’s comment is spot on.

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Tiffin Girls' School has a designated area; see the determined admissions arrangements. Use the journey planner. Note the Admissions timetable and FAQs.

Yes indeed.

Some public and private school pupils will have been coached, mentored and prepared almost from the day they were born to get into Oxbridge. Of COURSE they are likely to appear more polished in their interviews. They are also likely to have slightly higher GCSE and expected A level grades given that they've been provided with the best schooling money can buy.

That doesn't necessarily make them the best candidates though. What these Universities are looking for is POTENTIAL to excel.

Someone who grew up on a council estate and went to a comprehensive and is predicted to get A A B but appears slightly nervous and tongue-tied in their interview because they've never experienced anything like that before, may well have a higher chance of being a future nobel prize winner than someone who went to Eton and is predicted A* A A.

Exactly

Of course.

Oxford wants the best students, not just the ones that have parents who can afford to pay for private school and 11 plus, GCSE and A level tutors, oh and tutors for mock interviews as well and to check those personal statements.

Louise Richardson the Vice Chancellor at Oxford emailed every student at Oxford this morning about this, email started arriving at 6am.

Here is the final paragraph:

"The two new programmes will accelerate the pace at which we are diversifying our student body. When they are up and running we expect that one in four Oxford undergraduates will be from the UK's most under-represented backgrounds, thereby helping to ensure that every exceptional student in the country knows that they have a fair chance of a place at Oxford, regardless of their background."

Bravo Oxford. Let's give chances to all our bright students, not just the ones who have parents with well lined pockets. DG

I had the er... privilege of hearing Prof. Louise Richardson talk about university education and admissions and my impression was that she would have a very significant impact on the profile of the Oxford student population in the coming years.

Good.

No student who has a strong work ethic and is passionate about their chosen subject/subjects will lose out by Oxford refocusing on the brightest and the best rather than those with wealthy parents.

I know students who cleaned up in the 11 plus but have nothing to say for themselves.

Ability to reproduce knowledge in exams is not enough.

Even Edexcel gives higher scores to those who present an understanding of the material rather than just the data.

On results plus they have an A level History essay awarded full marks even thought they actually say that other students offered more information but did not present the argument as effectively. DG

I agree. But that is not what is happening. Oxford are now refocusing on those who live in the “right” postcodes. Those students who will lose out are those who have a strong work ethic and are passionate about their chosen subject but have the disadvantage of wealthy or middle income parents.
I hope that the colleges will continue to focus solely on academic potential (which, though some might think it unfortunate, does need to take account of academic achievement to date) and ignore this hand-wringing “postcode poverty” claptrap.

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Loopy