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How can independent school students navigate positive discrimination at Oxbridge?
It is well known by now that Oxbridge is trying to increase the representation of students from state schools and lower socio-economic backgrounds. Rory Dunning, Head of UK Universities and Oxbridge at Heritage Education discusses how independent school students and their parents can help navigate the tide of change.
Last year, Oxford stated they were going to provide a record 69% of its places to state school students, a sharp jump up from its figures of 56% five years prior. University Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson says that the entire Oxbridge community “have united behind a commitment to effect a sea change in our admissions practices.”
What does this mean for independent schools?
Whilst recent headlines in the news suggest it is the end of the road for Oxbridge and independent schools, the reality is that a large proportion of students will continue to be accepted. There’s no doubt that Oxbridge is attempting to mitigate the over- representation of private school students, but this does not mean to say that they will be unfairly discriminated against across the board.
A Telegraph article revealed that one in 12 offers at Magdalen College, Oxford were made to students from Eton and Westminster over the past 3 years. Likewise, the most recent list of Oxbridge admissions statistics for schools reveals that of the top 100 to gain entry, 48 were independent schools, 23 were grammar schools, 19 were sixth-form colleges and 7 were state- comprehensives. Clearly the most academic independent schools still dominate the charts:
What impact could positive discrimination have?
Whilst the Oxbridge admissions statistics for independent schools currently remain high, there is no doubt that they will decrease over time due to positive discrimination. One Oxford professor notes: “A few years ago, we took the best students, regardless of whatever school they came from. Now, we’re being explicitly told that nearly three- quarters of the places must be filled by people from state schools, which means that a lot of very able candidates don’t have a chance.”
This assertion is problematic; above all, because it assumes that the sole reason independent school students receive more places at Oxbridge is because of the fact that they attend an independent school. In essence, this is an over-simplification of the many different factors and reasons that contribute towards a student’s admission at Oxbridge. Oxbridge looks for intellectual curiosity, academic rigour, and an ability to think and read widely beyond the school curriculum. It seems naïve to suggest that these are qualities that independent students have only as a result of their schooling.
How can independent school parents navigate this change?
It has become clear that for independent school students to be accepted at Oxbridge, they will need to be performing at a higher level than their respective state-school applicants, as well as being near the top of their own independent school. This means that greater importance must be placed on performing as well as possible in the entrance exams and at interview.
The best way to do this is to find an Oxbridge-graduate mentor in your chosen subject who can work with you over a period of time to challenge you into different ways of thinking, provide mock interviews and ensure you are ready for the entrance exam. It seems that certain independent schools have become complacent in their methods of preparation and are not providing students with the personal attention that is now needed to succeed in a more competitive admissions environment. It seems that large-group Oxbridge preparation classes are no longer as effective.
At Heritage Education, they love to join students on their journey and truly maximise their chances of entry at Oxbridge or at any other top Russell Group University! Get in touch today to kick things off.
