Applications to Oxbridge reveal Bristol is a divided city
FIGURES for the number of students applying for places at Oxford or Cambridge universities have revealed huge disparities across Bristol.
They show that while there were 95 Oxbridge applications from Bristol West, and 80 from Bristol North West, in Bristol South there were just 10, while in the East constituencies there were 11.
An MP warned more needed to be done after the new figures were released in Parliament showing how many applications were made to the elite institutions from all of the UK's constituencies.
Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy said: "There remains a significant disparity between state school and private school students going to the top universities. The fact that only 11 prospective students from my constituency have applied to the two top universities, shows that more needs to be done to encourage and inspire young people to fulfil their potential, no matter what their background is."
Separate research for the Parliamentary library ranked Bristol Grammar School among the top in the country for the number of Oxbridge applications. Nine per cent of students went to either Oxford or Cambridge, it said.
The list of Oxbridge applications was dominated by wealthy English constituencies, with Oxford West and Abingdon, and Richmond, both recording more than 230 UCAS applications to Oxford and Cambridge.
Earlier this week the Evening Post reported that just 0.5 per cent of A-level students from Bristol state schools made it to Oxbridge – the worst of the four local authorities.
South Gloucestershire was 0.6 per cent, North Somerset was 0.8 per cent and Bath and North East Somerset was the most successful, with 1.2 per cent.
Independent school pupils are nearly seven times as likely as pupils in non-selective state schools to get to Oxbridge.
Two Bristol state schools which bucked the trend were Redcliffe Sixth Form Centre, which is part of St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, and North Bristol Sixth Form Centre, based at Cotham and Redland Green Schools.
Responding to criticism that it does not do enough to encourage students from poorer areas, an Oxford University spokesman said: "The most important factor in limiting the number of students who can apply to Oxford is attainment, pure and simple – and there is a very uneven distribution of students getting the necessary grades.
"There is simply no point citing the number of applicants in any given area without knowing how many students are getting the grades to even consider applying."
He pointed to specific projects targeting under-represented schools, adding: "We only admit, and recruit, on merit – no other factors are even considered."
The figures comes amid a row within the Coalition government over the appointment of the new head of the university access watchdog.
Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable wants to give the job to Professor Les Ebdon, an academic from the University of Bedfordshire who has been outspoken about elite universities' attempts to bring in more students from deprived backgrounds, but backbench Tory MPs have tried to block the appointment.
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by Mrs_W2009
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 6:58PM
“Perhaps that's because the schools south of the river haven't had much investment and careful attention as those in the north and west of the city!”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 7:06PM
“TO ALL OTHER CONTRIBUTORS AND POSTERS..
I AM NOW BEING IMPERSONATED AND MY AVATAR IS BEING USED/STOLEN.
MOST PROBABLY BY THE POSTER WHO CALLED/CALLS HIMSELF
'beachland'.
I will be making no further posts on thisis until the poster has been permanently banned.
I am requesting all contributors to contact Northcliffe Media Limited.
If you RIGHT CLICK ANY GENUINE AVATAR THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMMENTS.
RIGHT CLICK ON THE FALSE ONE/ ALL COMMENTS/ YOU WILL FIND TODAY'S IMPERSONATIONS OF ME.”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 6:12PM
“@Richard34
Quote:- "and UWE is also one of the leading new universities in the country."
http://tinyurl.com/yhtwej
Oh I'm really sorry about that! . I just couldn't resist!”
by Spiggett
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 4:58PM
“Surprise, suprise, we still have a class system...”
by lolly60
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 4:06PM
“A few people on these forums are very rude indeed.”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 3:12PM
“@Richard34 Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:39PM.
You do have an lot to say for yourself Richard34. . Mostly invective and personal attack when you don't like hearing the truth.
Now I'm sure you are smart and very well nurtured aren't you. . Tell me would you? . . How many prime numbers are there between between 1 and say 28,456? . I'll give you the rest of the day. .That should make up for any of your disadvantages.”
by Pogo_T_Clown
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 2:42PM
“Here's a candid admission for you all, on the topic of "IQ isn't everything".
The Great Lord Satan (possibly) blessed me with a fairly decent brain but I grew up in poverty in a cramped house on a violent and deprived housing estate. Due to the alcoholics on one side and the neanderthals on the other the house was always noisy and it was very hard to study. I preferred to stay late at the library but would be kicked out when it closed at 9pm.
It wasn't a good idea to be clever and/or bookish where I grew up, as it obviously meant you were a Catholic, homosexual or both. Studying was very difficult and during exam time, I would set my alarm clock for 3am, so I could wake up and work when things were peaceful and quiet.
If I'd had a nice house in an area free from the drunks and thugs, where I could've worked in peace, you'd all be working for me now. For limited wages, in horrible conditions if I had my way.
Money doesn't buy you everything but it helps. Wealth often springs from attainment and so does aspiration.
When I was growing up, no one round our way went to University. Few stayed in school beyond 16 because why would you want to? What was the point? There were plenty of jobs in the local factories and garages, after all.
My wife grew up in a privileged household, out in the country. It was bred into her from day one that she would go to university and get a highly paid job. She had a study of her own and was encouraged to achieve. I envy her that as much as I envy her having ... other attributes.
I occasionally am dragged back to the place where I grew up and I see the kids I knew, grown into indolent men, spending their lives drinking, fighting and ... well, that's about it. Were I sentimental, it would break my heart to see them, knowing that their lives are now stuck in a rut from which they'll never escape. Fortunately, I despise them all.
Intellect is all well and good but it does need nurturing, otherwise you end up with someone like me.”
by Pogo_T_Clown
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 2:41PM
“Here's a candid admission for you all, on the topic of "IQ isn't everything".
The Great Lord Satan (possibly) blessed me with a fairly decent brain but I grew up in poverty in a cramped house on a violent and deprived housing estate. Due to the alcoholics on one side and the neanderthals on the other the house was always noisy and it was very hard to study. I preferred to stay late at the library but would be kicked out when it closed at 9pm.
It wasn't a good idea to be clever and/or bookish where I grew up, as it obviously meant you were a Catholic, homosexual or both. Studying was very difficult and during exam time, I would set my alarm clock for 3am, so I could wake up and work when things were peaceful and quiet.
If I'd had a nice house in an area free from the drunks and thugs, where I could've worked in peace, you'd all be working for me now. For limited wages, in horrible conditions if I had my way.
Money doesn't buy you everything but it helps. Wealth often springs from attainment and so does aspiration.
When I was growing up, no one round our way went to University. Few stayed in school beyond 16 because why would you want to? What was the point? There were plenty of jobs in the local factories and garages, after all.
My wife grew up in a privileged household, out in the country. It was bred into her from day one that she would go to university and get a highly paid job. She had a study of her own and was encouraged to achieve. I envy her that as much as I envy her having ... other attributes.
I occasionally am dragged back to the place where I grew up and I see the kids I knew, grown into indolent men, spending their lives drinking, fighting and ... well, that's about it. Were I sentimental, it would break my heart to see them, knowing that their lives are now stuck in a rut from which they'll never escape. Fortunately, I despise them all.
Intellect is all well and good but it does need nurturing, otherwise you end up with someone like me.”
by Oddly
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 2:03PM
“I'm surprised the BoHo Southville/Totterdown/Upper Knowle set have done so poorly.”
by Richard34
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:39PM
“@Charlespk where do you get you research from? These are your opinions and they have no substance.
It's good that you brought a world class footballer in to this argument. Clearly you haven't done your research like Dr Ken Bray of Bath University.. try reading http://tinyurl.com/6wudugt
And don't believe that Geniuses aren't on facebook either.. they are. There is no way to generalise a genius. Dr Bray has shown in other research that top footballers make faster mathematical equations than super computers. Paul Gascoigne could have worked out maths ten times faster than you for example in those circumstances or with study in fast paced environments.”